Backpack with integrated speakers

• US 7,440,581 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SoundTube Entertainment, Inc. (MS Electronics LLC)
• Original Assignee: SoundTube Entertainment, Inc. (MS Electronics LLC)
• Inventors: Wiener, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/379,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 381/301, 381/304, 381/305, 381/333, 381/334, 381/335, 381/385, 381/388, 220/913, 225/0, 361/600, 361/679, 361/683, 379/430, 224/153, 224/259, 224/576
• US Class Current: 381/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

The personal wearable speaker system includes a backpack having a plurality of substantially hollow tubular ducts formed from a substantially flexible material designed to promote superior sound wave flow and anti-collapse (pinch) functionality, and a plurality of pairs of sound transducers.

Claims

1. A backpack speaker system, comprising:

a) a backpack including a first elongate duct having a first end and a second end attached to said backpack, said first duct defining a first duct chamber and adapted to flex without pinching off said first duct chamber;

b) a first sound transducer mounted to said first end of said first duct; and

c) a second sound transducer mounted to said second end of said first duct.

2. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first duct is substantially round in cross-section.

3. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, wherein:

said second sound transducer is configured on said backpack to face inward toward a body of the wearer of said backpack when said backpack is worn.

4. A backpack speaker system according to claim 3, wherein:

said first sound transducer faces outward toward an ear of the wearer.

5. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) a second duct having a first end and a second end attached to said backpack, said second duct defining a second duct chamber;

e) a third sound transducer mounted to said first end of said second duct; and

f) a fourth sound transducer mounted to said second end of said second duct.

6. A backpack speaker system according to claim 5, wherein:

said second duct is adapted to flex without pinching off said second duct chamber.

7. A backpack speaker system according to claim 5, wherein:

said second duct is substantially round in cross-section.

8. A backpack speaker system according to claim 5, wherein:

said second and fourth sound transducers are configured on said backpack to face inward toward a body of the wearer of said backpack when said backpack is worn.

9. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for electrically coupling said sound transducers to an audio player.

10. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first duct has a length and varies in cross-sectional shape along said length.

11. A backpack speaker system according to claim 1, wherein:

said backpack includes at least one strap sized and configured for attaching the backpack to a wearer.

12. A backpack speaker system, comprising:

a) a backpack having a side;

b) a first duct attached to said side of said backpack, said first duct having a first end and a second end, said first duct defining a first chamber and adapted to flex without pinching off said first duct chamber;

c) a second duct attached to said side of said backpack opposite said first duct, said second duct having a first end and a second end, said second duct defining a second chamber;

d) a first sound transducer mounted to said first duct adjacent said first end of said first duct;

e) a second sound transducer mounted to said first duct adjacent said second end of said first duct;

f) a third sound transducer mounted to said second duct adjacent said first end of said second duct; and

g) a fourth sound transducer mounted to said second duct adjacent to said second end of said second duct.

13. A backpack speaker system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for electrically coupling said sound transducers to an audio player.

14. A backpack speaker system according to claim 12, wherein:

said first duct has a length and varies in cross-sectional shape along said length.

15. A backpack speaker system according to claim 12, wherein:

said backpack includes at least one strap sized and configured for attaching the backpack to a wearer.