Acoustic chamber as part of adapter or appliance

• US 20080165998A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A., LeClear, Douglas D., Tenbarge, Andrew M., Rothermel, Ruben E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/345
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/00 Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 control of washing machines D06F33/00, D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

An acoustic chamber as part of adapter or appliance for an appliance. The acoustic chamber is substantially enclosed except at the exterior surface, and is configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

Claims

1. An appliance performing a useful cycle of operation on an object unrelated to the delivery of sound media, the appliance comprising:

an exterior wall having an exterior surface,

at least one acoustic chamber formed in the exterior surface, said at least one chamber being substantially enclosed except at said exterior surface and adapted to provide enhanced acoustical functionality, and

at least one speaker disposed in the at least one chamber.

2. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a second chamber formed in the exterior wall and configured to receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices, wherein at least one connector is disposed on the appliance for connecting said consumer electronic device with the speaker.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said enhanced functionality is selected from amplification, tuned frequency response, and sound directionality.

4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the wall is constructed of a pre-selected material to support the speaker.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the wall is hollow and is filled with a pre-selected material in the region adjacent the acoustic chamber to support the speaker.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the wall is adapted to provide air flow to the speaker to provide the enhanced acoustical functionality.

7. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure mounted to the exterior wall to enclose the speaker.

8. The appliance of claim 7 wherein said enclosure cooperates with the acoustic chamber to form an air-tight enclosure for the speaker.

9. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a network port connected to the speaker whereby the speaker may be accessed by a network to deliver sound.

10. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an audio connector disposed on the wall to interconnected with the at least one speaker.

11. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a wireless receiver connected to the speaker to permit wireless access to the speaker.

12. (canceled)

18. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the appliance comprises a cabinet and further comprising a toe plate at the bottom of the cabinet, said at least one speaker being located at the toe plate.

19. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the appliance comprises an exterior surface and further comprising an adapter mounted to the exterior surface of the appliance, the acoustic chamber being formed in the adapter.

23. The appliance of claim 12 further comprising a user accessible audio connector interconnected with the at least one speaker.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. A refrigerator appliance for use in conjunction with a source of sound media comprising:

a cabinet;

an interior in the cabinet for the refrigerated storage of food;

an exterior of the cabinet having an exterior surface;

at least one acoustic chamber adjacent the exterior surface, said at least one acoustic chamber being substantially enclosed and adapted to provide enhanced acoustical functionality,

at least one speaker disposed in the at least one acoustic chamber, and

media source connectors for the delivery of the sound media to the speakers.

26. The refrigeration appliance of claim 25 further comprising a door for access to the interior of the cabinet wherein said at least one acoustic chamber is located on the door.

27. The refrigerator appliance of claim 25 further comprising using insulation material of a higher insulation value in the door in the region of the acoustical chamber to minimize heat leakage due to the acoustic chamber.

29. The refrigerator appliance of claim 25 further comprising;

an adapter mounted to the exterior surface of the appliance cabinet, the acoustic chamber being formed in the adapter;

a docking port in the adapter configured to alternatively receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices; and

at least one connector provided on the appliance for sound data from said consumer electronic device to the speaker.

31. The refrigerator appliance of claim 25 further comprising at least one of:

a network port connected to the speaker whereby the speaker may be accessed by a network to deliver sound;

a user accessible audio connector interconnected with the at least one speaker;

a wireless receiver connected to the speaker to permit wireless access to the speaker;

a docking port configured to alternatively receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices, and at least one connector provided on the appliance for sound data from said consumer electronic device to the speaker; and

an adapter mounted to the exterior surface of the appliance cabinet, the acoustic chamber being formed in the adapter.

28. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. An appliance for selectively performing a physical operation on a domestic article unrelated to media comprising:

a main body having an opening;

the main body further comprising a substantially enclosed cavity accessible through the opening.

a door hingeably connected to the main body and configured to selectively enclose the cavity for the selective performing of the physical operation

a chamber formed in one of the main body and the door and configured to receive a speaker capable of rendering sound and further configured to amplify the sound.

41. The appliance of claim 40, further comprising at least one of a refrigeration appliance, a cooking appliance, a washing appliance and a drying appliance.

42. The appliance of claim 40, wherein the chamber further comprises an interface for coupling the speaker to a source of sound.

43. The appliance of claim 42, further comprising a docking structure configured for removably mounting a consumer electronic device configured for sending an audio signal.

44. The appliance of claim 40, wherein the chamber further comprises a speaker.

45. The appliance of claim 44, further comprising a docking structure configured for removably mounting a consumer electronic device configured for sending an audio signal.

46. The appliance of claim 40, further comprising a docking structure configured for removably mounting a consumer electronic device configured for sending an audio signal

47. The appliance of claim 40, wherein the chamber is formed in a surface of at least one of the main body and the door, the surface being disposed adjacent the cavity, and further comprising insulating material associated with the wall configured to provide thermal insulation to the cavity in compensation for the chamber.

48. The appliance of claim 40, wherein the chamber is formed in a surface of at least one of the main body and the door, the surface being disposed adjacent the cavity, and further comprising a first insulating material associated with the wall configured to provide thermal insulation to the cavity.

49. The appliance of claim 48, further comprising second insulating material associated with the wall and disposed proximate the cavity and configured to provide additional thermal insulation to the cavity in compensation for the chamber.

50. The appliance of claim 49, wherein the second insulating material is of a higher grade than the first insulating material.