Portable audio system with integrated handle

• US 9,066,174 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Parker, Robert Preston, Litovsky, Roman, Chan, Jacky Chi-Hung, Brown, Todd Charter, Pucci, Lino A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/956,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 381/334, 381337-339, 381/386, 181/198, 181/199, 455344-350, 455/556.1, 455/569.2, 361/679.23, 361/379.27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2857 for loudspeaker transducers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems

Abstract

An audio system includes a housing and an acoustic exit that exits the housing, and has a configuration that facilitates the grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers from a single human hand. The acoustic exit is located adjacent an exterior surface of the housing such that the shape of the exit together with the exterior surface facilitates grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from the single human hand and the acoustic exit exits a back surface of the housing such that the plurality of fingers can be inserted into the exit while the thumb of the same hand can rest on at least one of the top surface and the front surface of the housing.

Claims

1. An audio system comprising:

a housing;

a first acoustic driver and a second acoustic driver enclosed within the housing to radiate acoustic energy;

an acoustic exit located on a surface of the housing; and

a grille applied to a front surface of the housing through which acoustic energy from the first and second drivers inside the housing radiates;

wherein the acoustic exit is located adjacent an exterior surface of the housing, the acoustic exit and the exterior surface being configured to facilitate grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from the single human hand;

wherein the acoustic exit exits the surface of the housing such that the plurality of fingers can be inserted into the exit while the thumb of the same hand can rest on at least one of the top surface and the front surface of the housing.

2. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface located on a surface of the housing.

3. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises controls to operate audio system functions comprising at least one of audio volume, audio track selection, audio track skip, audio track stop, audio track pause, audio track rewind, audio track fast forward, and audio track play.

4. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises at least one control configured to be programmed to perform a specific function.

5. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a display located on a surface of the housing, the display configured to display at least one of information, graphics, and video images.

6. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a power input terminal for connecting an external power source.

7. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary input terminal configured to couple an external audio source to the audio system.

8. The audio system of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the housing comprises a at least one of rubber, plastic, silicone, and polypropylene, the bottom surface configured to isolate and stabilize the housing while the drivers of the audio system radiate acoustic energy.

9. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the housing comprises a curved shape.

10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the grille comprises metal.

11. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic exit is generally located on a back surface of the housing between the first and second acoustic drivers.

12. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a generally parallelepipedal shape.

13. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless remote control to control functions comprising at least one of audio volume, audio track selection, audio track skip, audio track stop, audio track pause, audio track rewind, audio track fast forward, and audio track play.

14. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic exit comprises a flared end.

15. An audio system comprising:

a housing;

an electronic audio circuit coupled to the housing;

an acoustic driver enclosed within the housing to radiate acoustic energy;

a grille applied to a front surface of the housing through which acoustic energy from the driver radiates; and

an acoustic exit located on a rear surface of the housing, opposite the front surface of the housing;

wherein the acoustic exit is located adjacent an exterior surface of the housing, the acoustic exit and the exterior surface being configured to facilitate grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from the single human hand;

wherein the acoustic exit exits a back surface of the housing such that at least one of the plurality of fingers and thumb can be inserted into the exit while at least one of the plurality of fingers and the thumb of the same hand can rest on the top surface of the housing.

16. The audio system of claim 15, further comprising an auxiliary input terminal configured to couple an external audio source to the electronic audio circuit.

17. The audio system of claim 15, further comprising a user interface located on a surface of the housing.

18. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the acoustic exit comprises a generally rectangular shape and further comprises a textured surface along an interior portion to provide a gripping surface for at least one of the plurality of fingers and the thumb.

19. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the acoustic exit comprises a flared end.

20. An audio system comprising:

a housing;

an electronic audio circuit coupled to the housing;

an acoustic driver enclosed within the housing to radiate acoustic energy;

a control located on the housing for adjusting the volume of the acoustic driver;

a grille applied to a front surface of the housing through which acoustic energy from the first and second drivers inside the housing radiates; and

an acoustic exit located on a rear surface of the housing, opposite the front surface of the housing;

wherein the acoustic exit is located adjacent an exterior surface of the housing, the acoustic exit and the exterior surface being configured to facilitate grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from the single human hand;

wherein the acoustic exit exits the housing such that at least one of the plurality of fingers and thumb can be inserted into the exit while at least one of the thumb and the plurality of fingers of the same hand can rest on the top surface of the housing.