Wireless audio speaker system

• US 20080137880A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brookstone Purchasing Incorporated (Bebe Stores, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Vian W.Y, Mills, Stephen B.
• Application Number:
  US11/636,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20080137880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/06 Arranging circuit leads; Relieving strain on circuit leads

Abstract

A speaker system employs a first device and a second device where one of the first device and the second device is a speaker. The first device has a supporting surface, from which a positioning element protrudes and forms a distal end. The positioning element tapers from the supporting surface to a smaller dimension at the distal end. The second device has a cavity receiving the positioning element. In one embodiment, the first device has a first electrical contact positioned adjacent to the positioning element and the second device has a second electrical contact engaging the first electrical contact. In another embodiment, the first and second device are rotationally repositionable relative to one another, and an electrical connection is created between the first device and the second device when the cavity receives the positioning element at more than one relative rotational position between the first device and the second device.

Claims

1. A speaker system, comprising:

a first device having a supporting surface, the first device comprising;

a positioning element that protrudes from the supporting surface and forms a distal end, the positioning element tapering from the supporting surface to a smaller dimension at the distal end; and

a first electrical contact adjacent to the positioning element; and

a second device comprising;

a cavity receiving the positioning element; and

a second electrical contact engaging the first electrical contact,

wherein one of the first device and the second device is a speaker.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning element is substantially frustaconical.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein an inner wall of the cavity defines a substantially frustaconical shape.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a spring biasing the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact into engagement with one another.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact comprises an annular contact surface surrounding the positioning element.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the second electrical contact is biased by a spring into engagement with the annular contact surface.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the second contact comprises a circular arrangement of point contacts, the circular arrangement corresponding with the annular contact surface.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the contact points are each biased by a spring into engagement with the annular contact surface.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein a positioning element center, a cavity center, an annular contact surface center, and a circular arrangement center are all substantially aligned with one another.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are rotationally repositionable relative to one another.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a raised surface on which the positioning element and the first electrical contact are positioned, and the second device further comprises a recess that receives the raised surface.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a depression, the second device being received into the depression when the positioning element is received into the cavity.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning element of the first device includes a third electrical contact, and the second device further comprises a fourth electrical contact engaging the third contact.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a spring biasing the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact into engagement with one another.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the third electrical contact extends through a channel passing through the positioning element.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are negative electrical terminals, and the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact are positive electrical terminals.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the speaker is rechargeable.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the speaker receives wireless audio signals.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical contact is positioned next to the positioning element.

20. A speaker system, comprising:

a first device having a supporting surface and a positioning element protruding from the supporting surface to form a distal end, the positioning element tapering to a smaller dimension at the distal end;

a second device including a cavity that receives the positioning element, the first and second device being rotationally repositionable relative to one another; and

an electrical connection created between the first device and the second device when the cavity receives the positioning element at more than one relative rotational position between the first device and the second device,

wherein one of the first device and the second device is a speaker.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the positioning element is substantially frustaconical.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein an inner wall of the cavity defines a substantially frustaconical shape.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the electrical connection comprises:

a first electrical contact including an annular contact surface surrounding the positioning element on one of the first and second device; and

a second electrical contact positioned on the other of the first and second device and engaging the annular contact surface.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a spring biasing the second electrical contact and the annular contact surface into engagement with one another.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the second electrical contact comprises a circular arrangement of point contacts, the circular arrangement corresponding with the annular contact surface.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the contact points are each biased by a spring into engagement with the annular contact surface.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the electrical connection further comprises:

a third electrical contact on one of the first and second device; and

a fourth electrical contact on the other of the first and second device, the fourth electrical contact engaging the third electrical contact.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the first device and the second device are rotationally repositionable by relative rotation about the positioning element, and the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact are aligned with the positioning element.

29. The system according to claim 27, further comprising a spring biasing the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact into engagement with one another.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the third electrical contact extends through a channel passing through the positioning element.

31. The system according to claim 20, wherein the speaker is rechargeable.

32. The system according to claim 20, wherein the speaker receives wireless audio signals.