Pillow speaker apparatus and method

• US 6,044,161 A
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith Lee
• Original Assignee: Keith Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Application Number:
  US09/195,769
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 381/301, 381/300, 381/87, 381/333, 381/332, 381/388, 381/386, 5/639, 5/904
• US Class Current: 381/301
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/904 with sound emitting means

Abstract

The invention is a pillow speaker for use as a combination headrest and sound delivery system for transmitting sounds, including music to a person'"'"'s head. The pillow speaker comprises a pillow headrest having an upper surface for receiving and supporting a person'"'"'s head. Extending downward from the upper surface is a lower body portion. The lower body portion is adapted for support from an exterior stable surface, the pillow speaker being constructed from a homogeneous flexible material. A pair of spaced apart loud speakers are mounted through the upper surface, within the lower body portion. The loud speakers include an exterior face for projecting sound outward from the pillow speaker, and an opposing rear face for projecting sound into and through the lower body portion. Importantly, the lower body portion of the pillow speaker comprises a plurality of large voids through which sound waves from the loud speakers can travel upwardly through the upper surface thereby reaching the listener from many directions.

Claims

1. A pillow speaker for use as a combination headrest and sound delivery system for delivering and transmitting sounds generated by an electronic source, including music to a person'"'"'s head, the pillow speaker comprising:

a pillow headrest having an upper surface for receiving and supporting a person'"'"'s head, and a lower body portion that extends downward from the upper surface, wherein the lower body portion is adapted for support from an exterior stable surface, the pillow headrest being constructed from a homogeneous flexible material;

a pair of spaced apart loud speakers adapted for connection to an electronic source, the loud speakers being mounted through the upper surface, within the lower body portion, the loud speakers having an exterior face for projecting sound outward from the pillow speaker, and an opposing rear face for projecting sound into the lower body portion; and

wherein the lower body portion of the pillow speaker is arranged to define a plurality of sound channeling voids through which sound waves from the loud speakers can travel.

2. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 1 wherein the sound channeling voids are interconnected to define a plurality of sound baffles, the sound baffles being integral with the lower body portion and projecting downward in relation to the upper surface.

3. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 2 wherein the sound baffles are formed in the shape of cones.

4. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 3 wherein the sound baffles are symmetrically disposed.

5. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sound communication openings that extend from the upper surface through the lower body portion to the sound channeling voids.

6. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 5 wherein the upper surface is formed to define a head receiving cavity.

7. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 6 wherein the sound communication openings extend to the head receiving cavity, and the loud speakers are disposed within the head receiving cavity.

8. A pillow speaker for use as a combination headrest and sound delivery system for delivering and transmitting sounds generated by an electronic source, including music to a person'"'"'s head, the pillow speaker comprising:

a pillow headrest having an upper surface for receiving and supporting a person'"'"'s head, and a lower body portion that extends downward from the upper surface, wherein the lower body portion is adapted for support from an exterior stable surface, the pillow headrest being constructed from a homogeneous flexible material;

a pair of spaced apart loud speakers adapted for connection to an electronic source, the loud speakers being mounted through the upper surface, within the lower body portion, the loud speakers having an exterior face for projecting sound outward from the pillow speaker, and an opposing rear face for projecting sound into the lower body portion;

a plurality of sound baffles defined by the lower body portion, the sound baffles projecting downward in relation to the upper surface.

9. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of sound communication openings that extend from the upper surface through the lower body portion to the sound baffles.

10. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 8 wherein the upper surface is formed to define a head receiving cavity.

11. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 10 wherein the head receiving cavity extends downward to the sound baffles such that sound communication openings are formed on the upper surface to facilitate communication of sound from the sound baffles to the upper surface.

12. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 8 wherein the sound baffles are formed in the shape of cones.

13. A method for making pillow speaker for use as a combination headrest and sound delivery system for delivering sounds generated from an electronic source, including music to a person'"'"'s head, the method comprising the steps:

forming a pillow headrest from a homogeneous flexible material, the pillow headrest having an upper surface for receiving and supporting a person'"'"'s head, and a lower body portion that extends downward from the upper surface, wherein the lower body portion is adapted for support from an exterior stable surface;

mounting a pair of loud speakers through the upper surface, within the lower body portion, the loud speakers being spaced apart and having an exterior face for projecting sound outward from the pillow speaker, and an opposing rear face for projecting sound into the lower body portion; and

forming the lower body portion to define a plurality of sound baffles, the sound baffles projecting downward in relation to the upper surface.

14. A method for making a pillow speaker as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of forming communication openings that extend from the upper surface through the lower body portion to the sound baffles.

15. A pillow speaker as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of forming the upper surface to define a head receiving cavity.