Portable entertainment device

• US 7,184,259 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brooks, Vincent L., Palmer, Jin Hyejung, Phillips, Sherry N., Marler, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/818,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 3122231-2236, 702/19, 368/12, 463/43
• US Class Current: 361/679.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver

Abstract

A portable entertainment device including a right bay, a center bay and a left bay. The right and left bays are used to house the electrical speakers used in the portable entertainment device and the center bay is used to house both permanently mounted electronics and electronic modules which can be shared between the portable entertainment device and an automotive vehicle. Modules such as satellite receivers, DVD players, MP3 players and the like can comprise the portable modules. The right bay, center bay and left bay are integrated by way of a tubular structure wherein tubular structure forms inner chambers which are used to accommodate batteries, electrical power cords, and can also function as the pressure equalization port for a woofer style speaker housed in one of the bays.

Claims

1. A portable entertainment device, comprising:

a right bay, a center bay, and a left bay,

at least one tubular element pivotally connecting the center bay to the left and right bays,

wherein the center bay includes a first face and a second face apart from the first face, said first face comprising controls for a first electronic system permanently housed in said center bay, said second face is adapted to removably interface with a module for a second electronic system and comprises controls for said second electronic system, and

wherein the center bay pivots relative to said left bay and said right bay between a first position wherein the first face is accessible by an operator for adjusting the controls for the first electronic system and a second position wherein the second face is accessible by the operator for the installing the module and adjusting the controls for the second system.

2. The portable entertainment device of claim 1 wherein said center bay includes means for interfacing with one of a plurality of electronic modules.

3. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, wherein the center bay includes means for accommodating a satellite receiver module.

4. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, wherein said first and second faces are on opposing sides of said center bay.

5. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, wherein said at least one tubular element includes first and second tubular elements, wherein said first tubular element includes a removable end cap, and wherein the first tubular element defines an inner chamber adapted to contain one or more batteries.

6. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said bays includes an inner chamber, wherein said inner chamber is vented through an inner chamber of said at least one tubular element to form an air passage port.

7. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, wherein said right and left bays includes stanchions.

8. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, further including a rubberized handle adapted to attach to end portions of said at least one tubular element by frictionally engaging an outer surface of said end portion or by frictionally engaging an one or more end caps affixed to said end portions of said at least one tubular element.

9. The portable entertainment device of claim 1, further including a clam shell case having at least one hinged element, wherein said clam shell cover is adapted to surround a front portion, bottom portion, and a back portion of one or more of said bays leaving a side portion of one or more of the bays uncovered.

10. The portable entertainment device of claim 6, wherein said inner chamber of at least one of said bays includes a speaker.

11. The portable entertainment device of claim 10, wherein said at least one tubular element includes an end cap, and wherein said end cap is permeable to air.