Portable audio apparatus

• US 5,349,480 A
• Filed: 03/04/1993
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takao, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Psitos, Aristotelis
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPADIA, VARSHA A
• Application Number:
  US08/026,396
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 360/69, 360/1, 360/137, 369/4, 381/122, 381/119, 381/75, 381/76, 381/110, 381/111, 381/120, 381/61, 381/77, 381/82, D14/160-165, D14/185-187, D14/226, D14/260
• US Class Current: 360/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/06 using web-form record carriers, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/063 using tape inside container
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/06 combined with other apparatus having a different main function
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/04 Electric megaphones

Abstract

A portable audio apparatus allows a user to sing along with the recorded song, the user'"'"'s voice and recorded song being outputted through a speaker. The apparatus permits the recorded lyrics or recorded tune of the song to be substantially eliminated prior to being reproduced by the speaker. The apparatus can operate in a fast forward or reverse mode and will stop between adjacent songs. A power savings circuit interrupts the supply of power to a motor to stop the latter from continuing to operate on a fast forward or reverse mode.

Claims

1. A portable sound reproducing apparatus for outputting information from a recording medium having information recording thereon and an external voice sound suitable for use as a karaoke device, comprising:

a housing having a first side, a second side opposite said first side, a first end between said first and second sides, and a second end opposite said first end;

accommodating means positioned on said first side of said housing for storing said recording medium;

sound signal reproduction means positioned and arranged in said housing for reproducing said information recorded on said recording medium as a sound signal;

microphone means essentially coupled to the first end of said housing for receiving said external voice sound;

speaker means positioned on first side of said housing for amplifying and outputting said sound signals from said sound signal reproduction means and said voice sound from said microphone means;

a handle mounted on said second side of said housing, said handle being adapted to support the housing as a unitary structure for karaoke, said housing supporting said accommodating means, said sound signal reproduction means, said microphone means and said speaker means to form said unitary structure supportable solely by the handle; and

control means mounted on a third side of said housing between said first and second sides for controlling said sound signal reproduction means;

whereby when the entire apparatus is supported solely by the handle, the microphone means can face essentially upwardly toward the head of a user and the speaker means can face essentially away from the user, the control means being positioned for easy manipulation during operation.

2. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means is a push button type switch.

3. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means is operable for at least stopping the movement of the recording medium, driving the recording medium in a forward direction, driving the recording medium in a rearward direction and activating the reproduction of the information on the recording medium.

4. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accommodating means is positioned on the first side of the housing towards said first end, said speaker means being positioned on said first side of said housing below said accommodating means and towards said second end.

5. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the accommodating means includes a cover for protecting the recording medium during operation, the control means being positioned on said third side of said housing towards said cover.

6. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handle is essentially mounted on said second side of the housing so that a space is formed between said handle and said housing.

7. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speaker means projects in a direction essentially orthogonal to the microphone means.

8. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a first end portion and a second end portion, at least one end portion of the handle being rigidly attached to the second side of the housing.

9. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the handle has a longitudinal dimension substantially the same as a longitudinal dimension of the housing.

10. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end portion of the handle includes a segment extending beyond the first end of the housing, the microphone means being mounted to the segment.

11. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second end portion of the handle on the side of the second end of the housing is formed with a battery storage portion for storage batteries.

12. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of the housing is essentially flat for at least in part supporting the apparatus on a surface.

13. The portable sound reproducing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means is essentially aligned with said accommodating means.