AUDIO SYSTEM HOUSED BY AN ENCLOSURE WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY WATERPROOF SEAL

• US 20080095382A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shannon R. Mott
• Original Assignee: Shannon R. Mott
• Inventors: Mott, Shannon R., Bierbower, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Audio systems are housed by an enclosure with a substantially waterproof seal such that the audio systems may be mounted in outdoor locations such as decks, boat docks, and the like. The enclosure may include a panel that opens relative to a tub portion, such as by a hinged connection, and a substantially waterproof seal located there between. The audio systems may include one or more various features such as external speaker connections so that speakers may be located distantly from the enclosure. Other features may include internal amplification that may be stand-alone or integrated into an audio signal source such as a radio or compact disc player or combinational device such as an automobile head unit. Additional features may include a power supply that provides power for the amplification and/or audio source, an external cover with a substantially waterproof seal relative to the enclosure, filtered ventilation via an electric fan, and other related features.

Claims

1. An audio system, comprising:

an enclosure having a substantially waterproof seal;

an amplifier within the enclosure, the amplifier having an electrical audio signal input and an audio signal output, the audio signal output being exposed to an exterior of the enclosure through a substantially waterproof port; and

an audio signal source providing an audio signal to the audio signal input of the amplifier.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio signal source comprises an audio signal input jack mounted to the enclosure, the jack being exposed to an exterior of the enclosure.

3. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio signal source comprises a radio mounted within the enclosure, the radio and the amplifier being integrated as a unit.

4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio signal source comprises a compact disc player mounted within the enclosure, the compact disc player and the amplifier being integrated as a unit.

5. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

6. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the power supply is mounted within the enclosure.

7. The audio system of claim 6, wherein the amplifier comprises a power input, wherein the power supply is an AC/DC power supply, wherein an AC input is exposed to an exterior of the enclosure through a substantially waterproof port, and wherein a DC output is interconnected to the power input of the amplifier.

8. The audio system of claim 7, wherein the power supply is an ATX computer power supply.

9. The audio system of claim 8, further comprising a relay, wherein the audio source comprises an audio head unit having a constant voltage input and a switched voltage input, wherein the ATX computer power supply comprises a constant first voltage level output and a switched second voltage level output, wherein the constant first voltage level output and the switched second voltage level output are connected to switched inputs of the relay, wherein the second voltage level output is connected to a trigger of the relay such that when the second voltage level output is switched off, the relay supplies the first voltage output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit and when the second voltage level output is switched on, the relay supplies the second voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit.

10. An audio system, comprising:

an enclosure having a hinged panel, a tub portion, and a substantially waterproof seal between the hinged panel and the tub portion;

an amplifier within the enclosure, the amplifier having an audio signal input, and an audio signal output;

an audio signal source fixed to the hinged panel providing an audio signal to the audio signal input of the amplifier, the audio signal source being exposed externally of the enclosure; and

a cover affixed to the hinged panel of the enclosure and enclosing the exposed audio signal source, the cover having a waterproof seal relative to the enclosure, the cover having a first position whereby the audio signal source is exposed to an ambient and having a second position whereby the cover maintains a substantially waterproof engagement to the enclosure such that the audio signal source is isolated from the ambient.

11. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the audio signal source comprises an audio signal input jack mounted to the hinged panel of the enclosure, the jack being exposed to the exterior of the enclosure.

12. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the audio signal source comprises a radio mounted within the enclosure, the face of the radio being exposed through an opening in the hinged panel to the exterior of the enclosure.

13. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the audio signal source comprises a compact disc player mounted within the enclosure, the face of the compact disc player being exposed through an opening in the hinged panel to the exterior of the enclosure.

14. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising a power supply.

15. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the power supply is mounted within the enclosure.

16. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the amplifier comprises a power input, wherein the power supply is an AC/DC power supply, wherein an AC input is exposed to an exterior of the enclosure, and wherein a DC output is interconnected to the power input of the amplifier.

17. The audio system of claim 16, wherein the power supply is an ATX computer power supply.

18. The audio system of claim 17, further comprising a relay, wherein the audio source comprises an audio head unit having a constant voltage input and a switched voltage input, wherein the ATX computer power supply comprises a constant first voltage level output and a switched second voltage level output, wherein the constant first voltage level output and the switched second voltage level output are connected to switched inputs of the relay, wherein the second voltage level output is connected to a trigger of the relay such that when the second voltage level output is switched off, the relay supplies the first voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit and when the second voltage level output is switched on, the relay supplies the second voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit.

19. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the amplifier further comprises an audio signal output that is exposed to the external of the enclosure.

20. An audio system, comprising:

an enclosure having a substantially waterproof seal;

a computer power supply that is attached to a wall of the enclosure and that has a plurality of power outputs;

an amplifier within the enclosure, the amplifier having an audio signal input and an audio signal output, the amplifier having a power input that draws power from at least one of the plurality of power outputs of the computer power supply; and

an audio signal source providing an audio signal to the audio signal input of the amplifier.

21. The audio system of claim 20, further comprising a relay, wherein the audio source comprises an audio head unit having a constant voltage input and a switched voltage input, wherein the computer power supply comprises a constant first voltage level output and a switched second voltage level output, wherein the constant first voltage level output and the switched second voltage level output are connected to switched inputs of the relay, wherein the second voltage level output is connected to a trigger of the relay such that when the second voltage level output is switched off, the relay supplies the first voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit and when the second voltage level output is switched on, the relay supplies the second voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the audio head unit.

22. The audio system of claim 21, wherein the audio signal source is an automobile head unit.

23. An audio system, comprising:

an enclosure having a hinged panel, a tub portion, and a substantially waterproof seal between the hinged panel and the tub portion;

an automobile audio head unit within the enclosure and fixed to the hinged panel and having a power input; and

a power supply within the enclosure supplying power to the power input of the automobile audio head unit.

24. The audio system of claim 23, wherein the power supply is a computer power supply.

25. The audio system of claim 23, further comprising a relay, wherein the automobile audio head unit has a constant voltage input and a switched voltage input, wherein the power supply comprises a constant first voltage level output and a switched second voltage level output, wherein the constant first voltage level output and the switched second voltage level output are connected to switched inputs of the relay, wherein the second voltage level output is connected to a trigger of the relay such that when the second voltage level output is switched off, the relay supplies the first voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the automobile audio head unit and when the second voltage level output is switched on, the relay supplies the second voltage level output to the constant voltage input of the automobile audio head unit.

26. An audio system, comprising:

an enclosure having a substantially waterproof seal and at least two apertures;

an amplifier within the enclosure, the amplifier having an audio signal input and an audio signal output;

an audio signal source providing an audio signal to the audio signal input of the amplifier;

a first louvered cover disposed in a first of the at least two apertures and a second louvered cover disposed in a second of the at least two apertures;

an electric fan within the enclosure and in alignment with the first louvered cover.

27. The audio system of claim 26, wherein audio signal source is disposed on a first side of the enclosure and wherein at least one of the first and second louvers is disposed on a second side that is substantially perpendicular to the first side, wherein louvers of the at least one of the first and second louver covers are angled in a direction away from the first side.

28. The audio system of claim 26, further comprising filters is disposed in contact with louvers of the first and second louvered covers.