Electronic Furniture Systems with Integrated Artificial Intelligence

• US 20180041354A1
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Original Assignee: Lovesac Company
• Inventors: Nelson, Shawn, Underwood, David, Kuchler, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,979,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/723 with display screens
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/727 with speakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

An electronic furniture assembly of the present invention comprises: (i) a furniture assembly comprising: (A) a base (e.g., a seat portion), (B) at least one transverse member (e.g., a side, armrest or backrest), and (C) a coupler for selectively coupling the base to the transverse member; and (ii) artificial intelligence mounted within one or more portions of the furniture assembly. A speaker system can also be provided within the furniture assembly. The artificial intelligence (AI) can respond to and/or obey voice or other commands from a user. The AI can provide numerous functions, e.g., control of the speaker system within the furniture assembly, control of a recliner assembly that is part of the furniture system, or the like. The furniture assembly can include a selectively dockable speaker as part of a speaker system.

Claims

1. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system, comprising:

an assemble-able furniture assembly comprising;

(A) a base; and

(B) a transverse member;

(ii) artificial intelligence positioned within the furniture assembly.

2. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical hub configured to be coupled to at least one of the transverse member and the base.

3. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 2, wherein the hub is selectively mounted within a cavity of the transverse member.

4. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 3 wherein the artificial intelligence receives electrical power from the hub.

5. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a speaker system positioned within the furniture assembly, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system through voice commands provided by a user.

6. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, wherein the furniture assembly has a configuration such that the length X of the base and the length X′

of the transverse member are equal to each other and wherein the length X of the base is equal to the width of the base plus the width of the transverse member, such that X=X′

=Y+Z.

7. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more lights on the bottom surface of the base and/or transverse member.

8. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more lights are configured to be controlled by the artificial intelligence.

9. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control a component of the furniture assembly, a television, or another component that is not part of the furniture assembly, through voice command.

10. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker system positioned within the furniture assembly; and

an amplifier for amplifying sound signals, the amplifier configured to be electronically coupled to speakers mounted within the base and transverse member;

wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system and/or amplifier through voice commands provided by a user.

11. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, wherein the furniture assembly is a modular furniture assembly.

12. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a speaker system positioned within the furniture assembly, wherein the speaker system comprises two front-facing speakers and two surround, upwardly-facing speakers, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system through voice commands provided by a user.

13. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 12, wherein the furniture system further comprises a subwoofer speaker.

14. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 13, wherein the subwoofer speaker is mounted in the base of the furniture assembly and is pointed downward.

15. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 10, wherein the speaker system comprises at least one selectively dockable speaker.

16. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 15, wherein the at least one selectively dockable speaker is selectively dockable into a receptacle of the transverse member.

17. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one selectively dockable speaker comprises electrical contacts and the receptacle of the transverse member comprises corresponding electrical contacts that make electrical contact with the dockable speaker when the dockable speaker is inserted into the receptacle of the transverse member.

18. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 17, wherein the at least one selectively dockable speaker is held in place by a friction fit or snap fit so as to not require a screwdriver or other tool to dock the dockable speaker into the receptacle.

19. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system, comprising:

(i) a furniture assembly comprising;

(A) a base;

(B) at least one transverse member; and

(C) a coupler for selectively coupling the base to the transverse member;

(ii) an electrical hub configured to selectively reside within the furniture assembly; and

(iii) a speaker system comprising one or more speakers mounted within one or more portions of the furniture assembly, the electrical hub acting as a source of electrical power for the speaker system;

(iv) artificial intelligence positioned within the furniture assembly, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system.

20. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 19, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system through a voice command provided by a user.

21. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system comprising:

(i) a modular furniture assembly;

(ii) a speaker system positioned within the furniture assembly such that the speaker system is hidden from view; and

(iii) artificial intelligence positioned within the furniture assembly wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the speaker system.

22. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 21, wherein the modular furniture assembly comprises a recliner assembly, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control the recliner assembly through a voice command provided by a user.

23. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 21, wherein the modular furniture assembly comprises a recliner assembly, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to recall a learned setting for the recliner assembly for a given user.

24. An artificial intelligence-enhanced furniture system as recited in claim 21, wherein the artificial intelligence is configured to control a television or other component that is not part of the furniture assembly, through voice command.