Speaker system

• US 9,788,092 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascion LLC
• Original Assignee: Ascion LLC
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B., Lalinsky, Jacob Michael, Tu, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US14/716,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 381301, 381333, 381388, 381 87, 381334, 381386, 381387, D14204, D142091, 181150, 181179, 181198, 181199, 5904, 5666, 5639
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/006 comprising sound equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/1045 shaped as, combined with, or convertible into other articles, e.g. dolls, sound equipments, bags or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• 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 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a piece of furniture, particularly an adjustable bed, having a speaker system. The bed includes a base having an outer peripheral edge. At least one speaker is mounted to the base of the piece of furniture, typically to the legs. The at least one speaker is mounted to face outwards from a center portion of the bed. The at least one speaker is mounted inboard of the outer peripheral edge of the base of the bed so as to conceal the speakers from a top view. The speaker system may also be used with various other pieces of furniture such as couches, chairs, tables, etc. A subwoofer may also be mounted to the base of the bed.

Claims

1. A bed having a modular speaker system and a plurality of legs, the bed comprising:

a base having an outer peripheral edge;

a plurality of legs cooperating to support the base;

a plurality of mounting brackets each positioned on an external surface of one of the plurality of legs;

a plurality of modular speakers mounted to and below the base of the bed, each of the plurality of modular speakers mounted to one of the plurality of legs of the bed by one of the plurality of mounting brackets, the plurality of modular speakers each mounted inboard of the outer peripheral edge of the base of the bed such that the plurality of modular speakers are mounted inward from the outer peripheral edge and not visible from a top view of the bed; and

the plurality of modular speakers facing away with respect to each other and thereby simulating a surround sound.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein each mounting bracket is mounted to the one of the plurality of legs by at least one strap.

3. The bed of claim 2, wherein each bracket includes a support feature for anchoring one end of the strap.

4. The bed of claim 1, wherein the modular speaker system further includes a subwoofer mounted to the base.

5. The bed of claim 1, wherein the speaker system further includes a noise cancellation system having a microphone.

6. The bed of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket has an L-shaped mounting feature.

7. The bed of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted to be connected to a flexible strap and includes a slot for receiving the flexible strap.

8. A speaker system operable to mount to a bed, the bed having a plurality of legs and a base having an outer peripheral edge, the speaker system comprising:

at least one speaker configured to be mounted to at least one leg of the bed, the speaker mounted to an external surface on the at least one leg and inboard of the outer peripheral edge of the base of the bed such that the at least one speaker is mounted inward from the outer peripheral edge and not visible from a top view of the bed;

a mounting bracket formed to mount to a leg of the bed and having at least one mounting feature for supporting the at least one speaker;

wherein the speaker is mounted to the mounting bracket by way of the at least one mounting feature.

9. The speaker system of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket includes at least one fastener adapted to securely mount to the leg below the base and above a floor.

10. The speaker system of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket includes at least one mounting strap adapted to wrap around the leg to securely mount the mounting bracket below the base and above a floor.

11. The speaker system of claim 10, wherein the at least one mounting strap includes a plurality of apertures to receive a securing feature formed on the mounting bracket to accommodate and mount to variously shaped and sized furniture legs.

12. The speaker system of claim 11, further including a subwoofer.

13. The speaker system of claim 8, wherein the bed is an adjustable bed, the speaker system further having a power supply integrated with a power supply of the adjustable bed.

14. The speaker system of claim 13, wherein a wireless device or remote control is operable to control both the adjustable bed and a wireless communication module.

15. The speaker system of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication module is operable to communicate via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

16. A combination of a speaker and a speaker mounting assembly for attaching the speaker to a bed, the combination comprising:

a speaker; and

a speaker mounting assembly, including;

at least one flexible strap, the at least one strap having a free end;

an L-shaped bracket having a back portion with a slot therein, a bottom portion extending outward from the back portion, and a hook portion extending up from the bottom portion, the bracket adapted to connect to the flexible strap directly, the speaker directly mounting on the hook portion of the L-shaped bracket; and

a connector mounted to either the bracket or the strap, the connector having a projection configured to secure the free end of the flexible strap when in an assembled position.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the flexible strap, the bracket and the connector are each separate components.

18. The combination of claim 16, wherein the flexible strap includes an aperture adapted to hold and secure the connector.

19. The combination of claim 16, wherein the flexible strap includes a plurality of apertures and the connector includes a general bulbous distal end adapted to securely connect with one of the plurality of apertures of the flexible strap.

20. The combination of claim 16, wherein the bracket includes an aperture configured to secure the strap to the bracket thereby allowing the flexible strap to wrap around a portion of the bed.

21. The combination of claim 16, wherein the strap is wrapped around and connected to the connector at a location away from the bracket.