Listening and display unit

• US 5,440,637 A
• Filed: 01/15/1993
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earl E. Vanfleet
• Original Assignee: Earl E. Vanfleet
• Inventors: VanFleet, Earl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/005,225
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 381/1, 381/28, 381/87, 381/124, 360/12, 360/91, 360/92, 369/20, 369/30, 369/34, 369/272, 369/274, 369/69, 369/75.1
• US Class Current: 381/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2529 Mini-discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

A listening and display unit for playing and promoting audio recordings, including a display surface for promotional and instructional messages, two or more audio jacks connected by an audio cable to one of several player units, a AC/DC power unit to power the player units, a DC power jack connected by a power cable to the power unit and connected by a wiring harness to the player units.

Claims

1. A listening and display unit for playing and promoting audio recordings, said unit comprising:

a display surface adapted for display thereon of a plurality of promotional and instructional messages;

playing devices, each device playing a preselected audio recording;

a player support unit disposed within the listening display unit to support said playing devices, said player support unit having a plurality of connectors, each connector corresponding to one of said playing devices;

a plurality of audio jacks mounted on said display surface, each of said audio jacks associated with one of said connectors and playing devices;

audio cables for connecting each of said audio jacks to an associated one of said playing devices;

an AC/DC power unit adapted to power said plurality of playing devices, wherein said playing devices are configured to play the preselected audio recordings when said power unit is turned on; and

wherein each of said playing devices is supported within an enclosure, said enclosure having a connector for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of connectors of said player support unit to provide power and audio signals to said playing devices.

2. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein each of said playing devices is supported within an enclosure, said enclosure having a connector for coupling to an associated one of said plurality of connectors of said player support unit to provide power and audio signals to said playing devices.

3. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said player support unit includes a plurality of compartments for supporting each of said playing devices, a DC power jack connected to said AC/DC power unit via a power cable and a wiring harness for connecting said playing devices to said DC power jack.

4. The listening and display unit of claim 2 further comprising a connector plate attached to an inner wall of said listening and display unit and connected to said plurality of connectors of said player support unit via a signal cable, said connector plate including a DC power jack connected to said AC/DC power unit via a power cable and a plurality of audio jacks connected to said plurality of audio jacks mounted on said display unit.

5. The listening and display unit of claim 4 wherein said connectors of each enclosure mate with an associated one of said plurality of connectors of said player support unit.

6. The listening and display unit of claim 4 wherein said player support unit comprises a central support plate member for disposing a first plurality of said playing devices on a first surface and a second plurality on an opposing second surface and spring clamping means attached to said support plate member for securing each of said playing device enclosures within said player support unit.

7. The listening and display unit of claim 6 wherein said central support plate member includes a guide members for facilitating installation and removal of said playing device enclosures within and from said player support unit.

8. The listening and display unit of claim 7 wherein said guide members comprise metal pins extending through said central support plate member.

9. The listening and display unit of claim 6 wherein each playing device enclosure includes a light indicator to indicate that connectors of each enclosure are mated with an associated one of said plurality of connectors of said player support unit.

10. The listening and display unit of claim 9 wherein said light indicator is a light-emitting diode lamp.

11. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein a plurality of audio jacks is associated with each of said playing devices.

12. The listening and display unit of claim 1 further including a timer mechanism, wherein said power unit is connected to said timer mechanism.

13. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said display surface is a free-standing tower, said surface having multiple surface segments.

14. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said display surface is adapted for mounting on a wall.

15. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said display surface defines at least one recessed area adapted for storage of audio recordings.

16. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said playing devices comprise portable cassette players.

17. The listening and display unit of claim 16 wherein said cassette players comprise means for auto reverse of a cassette.

18. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said playing devices comprise portable compact disc players. PG,16

19. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said playing devices are configured to continuously play the preselected audio recordings by maintaining said playing devices in a play mode.

20. The listening and display unit of claim 1 wherein said player support unit is removable from said display unit.