Acoustic chamber as part of adapter

• US 7,748,494 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Kendall, James W., McCoy, Richard A., Leclear, Douglas D., Tenbarge, Andrew M., Rothermel, Ruben E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAN MARTIN, EDGARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/117,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 181/150, 181/156, 181/148, 181/199, 381/333, 381/388, 381/332, 381/334, 381/301, 381/386, 361724-728, 361/731, 361/733, 439/300, 439/676, 625/31, 312/405, 312/237, 312/401, 312/402, 312/404, 312/407.1
• US Class Current: 181/150
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/00 Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 control of washing machines D06F33/00, D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

An acoustic chamber as part of adapter for an appliance. The acoustic chamber is substantially enclosed except at the exterior surface, and is configured to interchangeably receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

Claims

1. An adapter for an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation on an object unrelated to the delivery of sound media, the appliance having a door with an exterior surface and a compartment in the door and open at the exterior surface, the compartment having a receiving structure, said adapter comprising:

a body insertable into the compartment and having a mating structure to be received by the receiving structure of the compartment, and

at least one acoustic chamber formed in said body and having an opening,

wherein when said body is received in the compartment, said at least one acoustic chamber is substantially enclosed except at said opening located adjacent the exterior surface of the door, said at least one acoustic chamber being configured to at least partially receive at least one device selected from a consumer electronic device and a speaker.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said at least one acoustic chamber includes a docking interface configured to receive a mating interface of the at least one device.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said at least one acoustic chamber is configured to at least partially receive a speaker.

4. The adapter of claim 3 further comprising a network port capable of being connected to the speaker whereby the speaker may be accessed by a network to deliver sound.

5. The adapter of claim 3 further comprising a wireless receiver capable of being connected to the speaker to permit wireless access to the speaker.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said at least one acoustic chamber includes a docking interface configured to receive a mating interface of the at least one device.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said at least one acoustic chamber comprises a first chamber configured to at least partially receive a consumer electronic device, and a second chamber configured to at least partially receive at least one speaker.

8. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the at least one acoustic chamber is sealingly separated from an interior surface of the door.

9. The adapter of claim 8 wherein the at least one acoustic chamber is sealingly separated from the interior surface of the door by an insulation material.

10. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the body includes data connections to communicate data with said at least one device.

11. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the at least one acoustic chamber provides an enhanced acoustical functionality.

12. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the enhanced acoustical functionality is selected from amplification, tuned frequency response, and sound directionality.

13. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the at least one acoustic chamber is capable of interchangeably receiving a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

14. An adapter for coupling to an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation on an object unrelated to the delivery of sound media, the appliance having a cabinet and a door, the appliance providing mechanical support and at least one electrical service, the adapter comprising:

a main body capable of coupling to the door of the appliance;

a substantially enclosed acoustic chamber formed in the main body and adapted to provide enhanced acoustical functionality and capable of at least partially receiving at least one speaker; and

a speaker interface capable of coupling with a speaker when the speaker is at least partially received in the acoustic chamber.

15. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising a speaker at least partially received in the acoustic chamber and coupled with the speaker interface.

16. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the at least one acoustic chamber provides an enhanced acoustical functionality selected from amplification, tuned frequency response, and sound directionality.

17. The adapter of claim 14 wherein said acoustic chamber includes a docking interface configured to receive a mating interface of a speaker.

18. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising a network port capable of being connected to a speaker whereby the speaker may be accessed by a network to deliver sound.

19. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising a wireless receiver capable of being connected to a speaker to permit wireless access to the speaker.

20. The adapter of claim 14 wherein main body further comprises a second chamber configured to receive a consumer electronic device.

21. The adapter of claim 20 wherein said second chamber includes a docking interface configured to receive a mating interface of a consumer electronic device.

22. The adapter of claim 14 wherein said main body includes data connections to transfer data from said consumer electronic device.

23. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising a device interface capable of coupling with a consumer electronic device and connecting the consumer electronic device to the speaker interface.

24. The adapter of claim 23, wherein the device interface is configured to alternatively couple with a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

25. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising a docking port configured to receive a consumer electronic devices and couple the consumer electronic device to the speaker interface.

26. The adapter of claim 25, wherein the docking port is configured to alternatively receive a plurality of different consumer electronic devices.

27. An adapter for coupling to an appliance performing a useful cycle of operation on an object unrelated to the delivery of sound media, the appliance having a cabinet and a door, the appliance providing mechanical support and at least one electrical service, the adapter comprising:

a main body adapted to couple to the door of the appliance;

a first chamber formed in the main body and adapted to receive at least one speaker and provide enhanced acoustical functionality;

a second chamber formed in the main body and adapted to receive at least one consumer electronic device; and

connections extending between the first and second chambers and coupling the consumer electronic device to the speaker when the consumer electronic device is received within the second chamber to transfer audio from the consumer electronic device to the speaker.

28. The adapter of claim 27 wherein the enhanced acoustical functionality selected from amplification, tuned frequency response, and sound directionality.

29. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the adapter further comprises at least one of a docking interface configured to receive a mating interface of the speaker;

a network port capable of being connected to a speaker whereby the speaker may be accessed by a network to deliver sound;

a wireless receiver capable of being connected to a speaker to permit wireless access to the speaker; and

data connections to transfer data from said consumer electronic device.

30. The adapter of claim 27 further comprising a speaker mounted in the first chamber.