SHOWERHEAD AUDIO SPEAKER SYSTEM

• US 20150271583A1
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLC
• Original Assignee: AS IP Holdco, LLC
• Inventors: Wan, Lee Chung
• Application Number:
  US14/656,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271583A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/185 characterised by their outlet element; Mounting arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/006 Interconnection of transducer parts of diaphragm and outer suspension by moulding H04R31/003

Abstract

A shower audio system includes a speaker unit having a housing configured to removably mount about an outer periphery of a showerhead. The housing is a waterproof enclosure for speaker unit components, including speakers (which may variously include speaker drivers such as woofers, mid-range speakers, tweeters, and cross-overs), audio source connectors, audio electronics for processing audio input data and outputting audio, and a power source. Control buttons, such as an on/off switch, volume controls, and/or an audio source input selector are mounted on the outer surface of the housing to facilitate user access. The audio system also includes an audio source, which can be an external device such as, for example, a smartphone. The audio system renders audio, which can be wirelessly streamed from the audio source located outside of the shower, via the speaker unit mounted on the showerhead out of the way of the shower stream.

Claims

1. A showerhead audio speaker system, comprising:

a speaker unit housing comprising a bore configured to receive a showerhead;

a first coupling mechanism provided one of on and in the speaker unit housing, the first coupling mechanism configured to removably attach the speaker unit housing to the showerhead; and

audio electronics mounted within and enclosed by the speaker unit housing.

2. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 1, further comprising:

the showerhead fluidly coupled to a water source.

3. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 2, further comprising:

a second coupling mechanism provided one of on and in the showerhead, the second coupling configured to cooperate with the first coupling mechanism to removably attach the speaker unit housing to an outer periphery of the showerhead.

4. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 3, wherein the first coupling mechanism is a magnetic coupling.

5. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 4, wherein the magnetic coupling comprises a first plurality of magnets mounted in and enclosed by the speaker housing unit.

6. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 5, wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises a second plurality of magnets mounted in and enclosed by the showerhead.

7. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 6, wherein a number of magnets of the first plurality of magnets is one of more than, equal to, or fewer than a number of magnets of the second plurality of magnets.

8. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of magnets; and

a plurality of magnetically attractive elements, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises one of the plurality of magnets and the plurality of magnetically attractive elements, and wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises the other of the plurality of magnets and the plurality of magnetically attractive elements.

9. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 3, wherein the first and second coupling mechanisms comprise at least one of:

complementary hook and loop fastners;

complementary clips; and

friction fit engagement members.

10. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 3, further comprising complementary alignment members provided on an external surface of the bore and on the outer periphery of the showerhead, the complementary alignment members aligning the first coupling mechanism with the second coupling mechanism to facilitate coupling between the speaker unit housing and the showerhead.

11. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 1, further comprising:

a nonslip component comprising a friction enhancing material affixed to the speaker unit housing at least partially within the bore.

12. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 11, wherein the nonslip component has outer dimensions corresponding to the speaker unit housing and inner dimensions corresponding to an outer periphery of the showerhead, the nonslip component being interchangeable with other nonslip components to adapt the speaker unit housing to different corresponding showerheads.

13. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 1, further comprising:

speakers and a power source communicatively coupled to the audio electronics.

14. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 13, the power source comprising at least one of

a battery;

and

an electric generator powered by flow of water through the showerhead.

15. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 1, the audio electronics comprising at least one audio input source.

16. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 15, the audio electronics comprising a transceiver providing wireless interface to the at least one audio input source.

17. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 15, the audio electronics comprising a wired interface to the at least one audio input via one or more external jacks.

18. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 15, the audio electronics comprising at least one input mechanism accessible one of on and outside the speaker housing unit for controlling the at least one audio input source.

19. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 1, wherein the speaker housing unit is water-tight.

20. A showerhead audio speaker system, comprising:

a showerhead comprising;

a spray face having a plurality of fluid-ejecting nozzles formed thereon; and

an outer peripheral surface extending substantially perpendicularly away from the spray face;

a water-tight ring-shaped speaker unit comprising;

a bore configured to engage the outer peripheral surface; and

speaker unit components enclosed by the water-tight ring-shaped speaker unit; and

a coupling mechanism removably coupling the water-tight ring-shaped speaker unit to the showerhead.

21. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 20, further comprising:

a water-tight housing mounted in the water-tight ring-shaped speaker unit, wherein the speaker components are mounted in and enclosed within the water-tight housing.

22. The showerhead audio speaker system of claim 20, the audio electronics comprising at least one of a wired and a wireless data interface for receiving an audio signal from an external device, the audio signal being audibly reproducible by the speaker unit components.