Dipole speaker headrests

• US 5,887,071 A
• Filed: 08/07/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: House, William Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N.
• Application Number:
  US08/693,399
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 381/87, 381/88, 381/89, 381/188, 381/374, 381/386, 381/389, 381/86, 381/332, D 6/501
• US Class Current: 381/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

A sound reproduction unit comprises a central, head receiving portion and opposite first and second ends. The first and second ends have opposed front and back surfaces. A first acoustic transducer is mounted within the first end and a second acoustic transducer is mounted within the second end. First, second, third and fourth acoustically substantially transparent pathways are provided between the first transducer and the front surface of the first end, the first transducer and the back surface of the first end, the second transducer and the front surface of the second end, and between the second transducer and the back surface of the second end, respectively.

Claims

1. A sound reproduction unit comprising a central, head receiving portion, opposite first and second ends, the first end having opposed front and back surfaces, the second end having opposed front and back surfaces, means for mounting within the first end a first acoustic transducer, means for mounting within the second end a second acoustic transducer, a first port connecting the first acoustic transducer and the front surface of the first end to provide a first acoustically substantially transparent pathway, a second port connecting the first acoustic transducer and the back surface of the first end to provide a second acoustically substantially transparent pathway, a third port connecting the second acoustic transducer and the front surface of the second end to provide a third acoustically substantially transparent pathway, and a fourth port connecting the second acoustic transducer and the back surface of the second end to provide a fourth acoustically substantially transparent pathway.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first transducer comprises a first loudspeaker having opposed first front and second rear radiating surfaces, the first pathway defined between the first radiating surface and the front of the first end and the second pathway defined between the second radiating surface and the back of the first end, the second transducer comprises a second loudspeaker having opposed third front and fourth rear radiating surfaces, the third pathway defined between the third radiating surface and the front of the second end and the fourth pathway defined between the fourth radiating surface and the back of the second end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head receiving portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the first end defines a second longitudinal axis, and the first and second axes define between them a first angle greater than 0°

and less than or equal to 90°

.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second end defines a third longitudinal axis and the first and third axes define between them a second angle greater than 0°

and less than or equal to 90°

.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the head receiving portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the first end defines a second longitudinal axis, and the first and second axes define between them a first angle greater than 0°

and less than or equal to 90°

.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second end defines a third longitudinal axis and the first and third axes define between them a second angle greater than 0°

and less than or equal to 90°

.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising means for mounting the unit on an automotive vehicle seat.