Audio system for outdoor umbrella

• US 8,331,598 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US11/796,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20080118089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 381/124, 381/87, 381/334, 381/332, 381/386, 135/16, 135/15.1, 135/17
• US Class Current: 381/332
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

An audio system for an outdoor umbrella includes an audio housing, a detachable locker, and an audio device. The audio housing includes a first housing body and a second housing body defining a mounting slot for a shaft of the outdoor umbrella fitting therewithin. The detachable locker includes a first locker provided at the first housing body and a second locker which is provided at the second housing body and is releasably locked with the first locker so as to detachably lock up the second housing body with the first housing body. The audio device includes a speaker supported in the first housing body and an audio input operatively coupling with the speaker such that when the audio input sends an audio signal to the speaker, the speaker is adapted for producing audio sound as an additional function for the outdoor umbrella.

Claims

1. An audio system for an outdoor umbrella having a shaft, comprising:

an audio housing which comprises a first housing body and a second housing body defining a mounting slot when said first and second housing bodies are coupled with each other, wherein said mounting slot has a size for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella fitting therewithin;

a detachable locker comprising a first locker provided at said first housing body and a second locker which is provided at said second housing body and is releasably locked with said first locker to detachably lock up said second housing body with said first housing body for securely mounting said audio housing around said shaft of said outdoor umbrella; and

an audio device which comprises one or more speakers supported in said audio housing and an audio input operatively coupling with said speaker such that when said audio input sends an audio signal to said speaker, said speaker is adapted for producing audio sound as an additional function for said outdoor umbrella, wherein said first housing body, having a U-shaped structure, has two inner guiding walls defining a guiding channel therebetween, wherein said second housing body, having a corresponding shape, has two outer guiding walls engaging with said inner guiding walls of said first housing body, wherein said guiding channel has a closed end defining said mounting slot thereat and an opened end arranged when said second housing body is slidably mounted to said first housing body, along said guiding channel through said opened end thereof, said mounting slot is formed at said closed end of said guiding channel.

2. The audio system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first locker comprises two toothed-locking tracks provided at said inner guiding walls of said first housing body respectively, wherein said second locker comprises two locking arms outwardly extended from said outer guiding walls of said second housing and a lock actuator actuating said locking arms to engage with said toothed-locking tracks respectively for locking up said second housing body with said first housing body and to disengage with said toothed-locking tracks respectively for releasing said second housing body with said first housing body so as to allow said second housing body being detached from said first housing body.

3. The audio system, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said locking arms has an inner pivot end pivotally mounted in said second housing body and an outer locking end outwardly protruded from said respective outer guiding wall of said second housing body through a locking hole to selectively engage with said respective toothed-locking track, wherein said lock actuator comprises two actuating legs movably mounted in said second housing body to engage with said locking arms respectively and a control pusher which is extended from said actuating legs to an exterior of said second housing body and is arranged in such a manner that when said control pusher is depressed, said actuating legs are pushed to pivotally move said locking arms at a position that said locking ends of said locking arms are moved into an interior of said second housing body through said locking holes so as to disengage said locking ends of said locking arms with said toothed-locking tracks respectively.

4. The audio system, as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said actuating legs has a straight biasing portion and a curved releasing portion that said locking arms are normally engaged with said curved releasing portions of said actuating legs to retain said locking ends of said locking arms engaging with said toothed-locking tracks respectively, wherein when said control pusher is depressed to move said actuating legs, said locking arms are engaged with said straight biasing portions of said actuating legs to pivotally move said locking ends of said locking arms into said interior of said second housing body through said locking holes so as to disengage said locking ends of said locking arms with said toothed-locking tracks respectively.

5. The audio system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said second locker further comprises two first resilient elements mounted at two free ends of said actuating legs for applying an urging force against said control pusher to retain said control pusher in a normal position and two second resilient elements provided at said two locking arms for applying a pushing force against said locking arms with respect to sidewalls of said locking holes so as to retain said locking ends of said locking arms to engage with said toothed-locking tracks respectively.

6. The audio system, as recited in claim 5, further comprising an adjustable retainer for adjusting the size of said mounting slot for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, wherein said adjustable retainer comprises a retention arm, having a pusher surface facing towards said mounting slot, slidably mounted said second housing body and an adjustable locker controllably driving said retention arm at a position that when said retention arm is driven towards mounting slot, said pusher surface is arranged for biasing against an outer surface of said shaft of said outdoor umbrella until said shaft thereof being fitted at said mounting slot so as to substantially mount said audio housing at said outdoor umbrella.

7. The audio system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said retention arm comprises a pusher head defining said pusher surface thereat and a driving arm, having a toothed track, extended from said pusher head, wherein said adjustable locker has a control portion extended out of said second housing body and a gear portion which is extended from said control portion and is engaged with said toothed track of said driving arm such that when said control portion of said adjustable locker is rotated, said driving arm is slidably moved to selectively drive said pusher head towards said mounting slot for selectively adjusting the size of said mounting slot with respect to said shaft of said outdoor umbrella.

8. The audio system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first locker contains two locking slots formed at said inner guiding walls of said first housing body respectively, wherein said second locker comprises two ball-shaped locking elements movably provided at said outer guiding walls of said second housing body respectively and a lock actuator actuating said locking elements to engage with said locking slots respectively for locking up said second housing body with said first housing body and to disengage with said locking slots respectively for releasing said second housing body with said first housing body so as to allow said second housing body being detached from said first housing body.

9. The audio system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said lock actuator has two sidewalls and two indentions formed thereon, wherein when said locking elements are biased against said sidewalls of said lock actuator, locking portions of said locking elements are protruded from said outer guiding walls of said second housing body through two locking holes to engage with said locking slots respectively so as to lock up said second housing body with said first housing body, wherein when said lock actuator is pressed until said locking elements are retained at said indentions of said locking actuator respectively, said locking portions of said locking elements are moved into an interior of said second housing body through said locking holes so as to disengage said locking elements with said locking slots respectively.

10. The audio system, as recited in claim 9, wherein said second locker further comprises a first resilient element mounted in said second housing body for applying an urging force against said lock actuator so as to normally retain said locking elements being biased against said sidewalls of said lock actuator.

11. The audio system, as recited in claim 10, further comprising an adjustable retainer for adjusting the size of said mounting slot for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, wherein said adjustable retainer comprises a retention arm, having a pusher surface facing towards said mounting slot, slidably mounted said second housing body and an adjustable locker controllably driving said retention arm at a position that when said retention arm is driven towards mounting slot, said pusher surface is arranged for biasing against an outer surface of said shaft of said outdoor umbrella until said shaft thereof being fitted at said mounting slot so as to substantially mount said audio housing at said outdoor umbrella.

12. The audio system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said adjustable locker comprises a compression spring supported in said second housing body for applying a pushing force against said retention arm so as to normally push said pusher surface towards said mounting slot.

13. An audio system for an outdoor umbrella having a shaft, comprising:

an audio housing which comprises a first housing body and a second housing body defining a mounting slot when said first and second housing bodies are coupled with each other, wherein said mounting slot has a size for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella fitting therewithin;

a detachable locker comprising a first locker provided at said first housing body and a second locker which is provided at said second housing body and is releasably locked with said first locker to detachably lock up said second housing body with said first housing body for securely mounting said audio housing around said shaft of said outdoor umbrella;

an audio device which comprises one or more speakers supported in said audio housing and an audio input operatively coupling with said speaker such that when said audio input sends an audio signal to said speaker, said speaker is adapted for producing audio sound as an additional function for said outdoor umbrella; and

an adjustable retainer for adjusting the size of said mounting slot for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, wherein said adjustable retainer comprises a retention arm, having a pusher surface facing towards said mounting slot, slidably mounted said second housing body and an adjustable locker controllably driving said retention arm at a position that when said retention arm is driven towards mounting slot, said pusher surface is arranged for biasing against an outer surface of said shaft of said outdoor umbrella until said shaft thereof being fitted at said mounting slot so as to substantially mount said audio housing at said outdoor umbrella.

14. The audio system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said retention arm comprises a pusher head defining said pusher surface thereat and a driving arm, having a toothed track, extended from said pusher head, wherein said adjustable locker has a control portion extended out of said second housing body and a gear portion which is extended from said control portion and is engaged with said toothed track of said driving arm such that when said control portion of said adjustable locker is rotated, said driving arm is slidably moved to selectively drive said pusher head towards said mounting slot for selectively adjusting the size of said mounting slot with respect to said shaft of said outdoor umbrella.

15. An audio system for an outdoor umbrella having a shaft, comprising:

an audio housing which comprises a first housing body and a second housing body defining a mounting slot when said first and second housing bodies are coupled with each other, wherein said mounting slot has a size for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella fitting therewithin;

a detachable locker comprising a first locker provided at said first housing body and a second locker which is provided at said second housing body and is releasably locked with said first locker to detachably lock up said second housing body with said first housing body for securely mounting said audio housing around said shaft of said outdoor umbrella;

an audio device which comprises one or more speakers supported in said audio housing and an audio input operatively coupling with said speaker such that when said audio input sends an audio signal to said speaker, said speaker is adapted for producing audio sound as an additional function for said outdoor umbrella, wherein said first and second housing bodies are two identical half circular bodies pivotally coupling with each other, wherein each of said first and second housing bodies has two biasing surfaces arranged when said biasing surfaces of said first housing body engage with said biasing surfaces of said second housing body respectively, said audio housing is formed to have a donut shape and to define said mounting slot at a center of said audio housing; and

an adjustable retainer for adjusting the size of said mounting slot for said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, wherein said adjustable retainer comprises a first foaming element provided at said first housing body and a second foaming element which is provided at said second housing body and is arranged when said first and second housing bodies are engaged with each other, said first and second foaming elements are adapted for biasing against the outer side of the shaft of the outdoor umbrella to securely retain said audio housing around the shaft of the outdoor umbrella.

16. The audio system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said first locker contains a first locking channel formed at said first housing body, wherein said second locker which contains a second locking channel formed at said second housing body and comprises an elongated locking shaft rotatably extended from said second locking channel to said first locking channel to lock up said second housing body with said first hosing body.