Vehicle window speaker mounting accessory and related methods

• US 5,750,942 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E. Flick
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US08/677,240
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 181/141, 181/150, 181/171, 181/199, 381/86, 381/88, 381/90, 381/188, 381/205, 296/146.1, 296/152
• US Class Current: 181/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A window accessory for mounting one or more audio speakers within a rear window space of a vehicle includes transparent interior and exterior panels which together define an acoustic chamber for operation of the speakers. In one embodiment, speaker mounts are integrally formed with the exterior panel for supporting each speaker adjacent a speaker opening within the interior panel. The speakers may also be mounted by struts extending from a joint between the interior and exterior panels. A gap may be defined between each speaker periphery and the adjacent speaker opening periphery for providing an air baffle effect for the operation of the speakers within the acoustic chamber. The gap is sufficient so that separate air baffles are not needed. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A window accessory for mounting one or more audio speakers within a rear window space of a vehicle, the window accessory comprising:

an interior panel for installation within the rear window space of the vehicle, the interior panel having one or more speaker openings for admitting sound therethrough;

an exterior panel for installation within the rear window space and for defining an acoustic chamber with the interior panel, the exterior panel having a front surface opposing the interior panel; and

audio speaker mounting means carried by the exterior panel and extending from the front surface of the exterior panel toward the interior panel for mounting one or more audio speakers to be positioned adjacent respective speaker openings in the interior panel.

2. A window accessory according to claim 1, wherein the audio speaker mounting means positions the one or more audio speakers in a spaced relation with adjacent portions of the interior panel for providing a gap therebetween and thus a baffle effect for the acoustic chamber.

3. A window accessory according to claim 2, wherein the audio speaker mounting means positions the one or more audio speakers to define a gap between a periphery of the speaker opening and a periphery of a corresponding speaker.

4. A window accessory according to claim 1, wherein the audio speaker mounting means is integrally formed with the exterior panel.

5. A window accessory according to claim 1, wherein the audio speaker mounting means comprises a plurality of supports and fasteners associated with end portions of the supports.

6. A window accessory according to claim 1, wherein the interior and exterior panels comprise transparent material.

7. A window accessory according to claim 1, wherein the interior panel is continuous except for the speaker openings.

8. A window accessory according to claim 1, further comprising a porous cover attached to the interior panel for covering each of the one or more speaker openings.

9. A window accessory for mounting one or more audio speakers within a rear window space of a vehicle, the window accessory comprising:

a transparent interior panel for installation within the rear window space of the vehicle, the interior panel having one or more speaker openings for admitting sound therethrough;

a transparent exterior panel for installation within the rear vehicle window space and for defining an acoustic chamber with the interior panel, the exterior panel having a front surface opposing the interior panel; and

audio speaker mounting means carried by the transparent exterior panel and extending from the front surface of the exterior panel toward the interior panel for mounting one or more audio speakers to be positioned adjacent respective speaker openings in the interior panel, the audio speaker mounting means further positioning the one or more audio speakers in a spaced relation with adjacent portions of the interior panel for providing a gap therebetween and thus an air baffle effect for the acoustic chamber.

10. A window accessory according to claim 9, wherein the gap is formed between a periphery of the speaker opening and a periphery of a corresponding speaker.

11. A window accessory according to claim 9, wherein the audio speaker mounting means is integrally formed with the exterior panel.

12. A window accessory according to claim 9, wherein the audio speaker mounting means comprises a plurality of supports and fasteners associated with end portions of the supports.

13. A window accessory according to claim 9, wherein the interior panel is continuous except for the speaker openings.

14. A window accessory according to claim 9, further comprising a porous cover attached to the interior panel for covering each of the one or more openings.

15. A window accessory for a rear window space of a vehicle, the window accessory comprising:

an interior panel for installation within the rear window space of the vehicle, the interior panel having one or more speaker openings for admitting sound therethrough;

an exterior panel for installation within the rear window space and for defining an acoustic chamber with the interior panel;

one or more audio speakers for operation within the acoustic chamber; and

audio speaker mounting means carried within the acoustic chamber for mounting the one or more speakers to be positioned adjacent respective speaker openings in the interior panel and in spaced relation with adjacent portions of the interior panel for providing a gap therebetween and thus an air baffle effect for the acoustic chamber.

16. A window accessory according to claim 15, further comprising a porous cover attached to the interior panel for covering each of the one or more speaker openings.

17. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein the audio speaker mounting means positions the one or more audio speakers to define a gap between a periphery of the speaker opening and a periphery of the adjacent speaker.

18. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein the audio speaker mounting means is integrally formed with the exterior panel.

19. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein said audio speaker mounting means comprises one or more supports extending from a joint between adjacent edge portions of said exterior and interior panels.

20. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein the audio speaker mounting means comprises a plurality of supports extending from the exterior panel and fasteners associated with end portions of the supports.

21. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein the interior and exterior panels comprise transparent material.

22. A window accessory according to claim 15, wherein the interior panel is continuous except for the speaker openings.

23. A method for mounting one or more speakers within a rear window space of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

installing an interior panel within the rear window space of the vehicle, the interior panel having one or more speaker openings for admitting sound therethrough;

installing an exterior panel within the window space for defining an acoustic chamber with the interior panel, the exterior panel having a front surface opposing the interior panel; and

mounting one or more audio speakers to be carried by the front surface of the exterior panel for positioning the one or more speakers adjacent respective speaker openings in the interior panel.

24. A vehicle speaker mounting method according to claim 23, wherein the step of mounting the one or more audio speakers comprises mounting each speaker in spaced relation with adjacent portions of the interior panel for providing a gap therebetween and thus an air baffle effect for the acoustic chamber.

25. A vehicle speaker mounting method according to claim 24, wherein the step of mounting comprises mounting each speaker to define a gap between a periphery of the speaker opening and a periphery of an adjacent speaker.

26. A vehicle speaker mounting method according to claim 23, wherein the step of mounting comprises the step of fastening each speaker to end portions of respective supports extending from the exterior panel.

27. A vehicle speaker mounting method according to claim 23, wherein the steps of installing comprise installing interior and exterior panels comprising transparent material.

28. A vehicle speaker mounting method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of attaching a porous cover to the interior panel for each of the one or more openings.