AUDIO SPEAKER ILLUMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20080285257A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kristopher C. King
• Original Assignee: Kristopher C. King
• Inventors: King, Kristopher C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/86
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles

Abstract

An audio system with an illumination mechanism is disclosed. One embodiment includes a device which can be mounted in the center of an audio speaker and used to create an optical effect.

Claims

1. A system for use with an audio speaker, said speaker having a sound-generating audio cone, said system comprising:

a device having a first end and a second end;

said first end being adapted to be attached at a center axial area of said speaker;

said second end being adapted to extend out into a space defined inside said cone, at least a portion of said second end being at least partially one of transparent and translucent; and

said device being adapted to receive light from a light source such that said light is transmitted through said portion to illuminate an area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein first end includes screws adapted to be received in a set of receiving screws existent in a conventional speaker.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said light source is receivable in said first end.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said light source is receivable in a bore in said first end, said bore sized to allow the passage of an external diameter of said light source.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end is tapered.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end is substantially solid.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a distal portion of said second end is made to be opaque.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end includes a reflector, said reflector opposing an emission direction of said light source to create an indirect lighting effect.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end includes indicia, said indicia optically interacting with said light source to result in a projected image.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said second end is adapted such that light emitted from said light source first passes through a substantially transparent portion and then at a more distal portion passes through a light filter which causes the tip of said device to emit colored light.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said device includes a light filtering portion which causes at least a portion of said device to emit colored light.

12. A system for use with an audio speaker, said system comprising:

a device being one of transparent and translucent, said device being mountable in a center portion of said speaker; and

said device being adapted to receive light from a light source and then transmit said light into an area to create an ornamental effect in said area.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said device is fixed at a center portion of a speaker.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said device is fixed at a center portion of said speaker.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein a distal portion of said device is made to be opaque.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said device includes a reflector, said reflector opposing an emission direction of said light source to create an indirect lighting effect.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said device includes indicia, said indicia optically interacting with said light source to result in a projected image.

19. A method comprising:

obtaining a member which is one at least partially one of transparent and translucent;

adapting a first end such that it is able to be attached into a center axial area of a cone on a speaker;

adapting said first end such that said device is oriented such that it receives light from a light source so that said light is able to be transmitted through at least a portion of said member to illuminate an area.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising:

configuring said member such that it enhances an audio quality of said speaker.