Abstract:
A spa speaker system is disclosed having a housing with a speaker mounted within it. The housing is movably mounted to a track with the housing extendible and retractable from the top of the track. A spring is arranged to urge the housing to extend from the top of the track. A latching mechanism is operable to hold the housing in its retracted position and is thereafter operable to release the housing. The housing extends from the track when the housing is released by the latching mechanism. A system for providing audio to a reservoir of water is also disclosed. The system comprises a reservoir shell capable of holding water and at least one speaker system according to the invention mounted to said reservoir shell above the water line. Each of the speaker systems is independently extendible from the shell.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to spas and more particularly to a retractable speaker system for spas. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Reservoirs of water such as pools, spas, bathtubs and the like (collectively referred to as “spas” or “spa”) are more commonly being constructed with features such as televisions and audio systems. For the occupants of the spa to hear the television or audio system, a number of speakers can be included around the spa, with a common location being the edge of the spa above the waterline. The speakers are arranged so that the sound they produce is directed toward the spa occupants and the sound can be heard over the noise of the spa&#39;s plumbing system. 
   One conventional way of mounting speaker systems around the edge of spas having Acrylic or fiberglass spa bodies is to form “ears” or extensions in the spa body and to mount a respective speaker in each of the ears. The ears are formed during the spa fabrication process and they provide fixed and permanent housings for the speakers. The ears are usually arranged around the edge of the spa and extend above the edge, with a typical location being in the corners of a rectangular/square spa. When the speakers are installed in the ears, their sound is directed in toward the spa occupants. 
   One disadvantage of the ear type spa speaker system is that the extra step of forming the ears in the acrylic or fiberglass body can add significant cost to the spa. Spas with ears also require additional storage and shipping space because the ears extend above the top surface of the spa. Shipping and storing of these spas can also be awkward because the ears prevent the spas from being securely stacked on top of one another. The ears can also make it difficult to produce a cover that closely fits over the spa, and the speakers in the ears are permanently fixed so that they cannot be retracted when not in use. 
   Other spa speaker systems have been developed that have speaker housings that extend from the top edge of the spa during use and can then be retracted below the edge when not in use. Holes are created around the edge of the spa and the speaker systems are mounted within the holes. When the speaker housings are fully retracted, their-top surface is substantially flush with the surface of the spa. The speaker housings can extend under the force of an air pump/cylinder or a hydraulic system, both of which are usually housed behind the wall of the spa body and push the speakers up from the bottom. The speaker systems can be connected to a single air or hydraulic driving system so that the air or hydraulic extenders can be simultaneously actuated to simultaneously extend the speaker housings. 
   One disadvantage of these types of speaker systems is that each speaker system requires its own air or hydraulic actuator, and requires at least one actuator driving system. The actuator and driving system adds significant cost and complexity, which can lead to failures. Space behind the wall of a spa is often a premium, particularly for portable spas. The plumbing and electrical systems consume most of the space behind the spa wall, leaving little space for speaker systems. Speaker systems with air and hydraulic actuators consume an excessive amount of space behind the spa wall because the air/hydraulic actuator is attached to the bottom of each speaker system, significantly increasing its overall length. Further, in many conventional speaker systems the speakers are not individually extendible, so that the sound produces by the speakers cannot be tailored to the location of the occupants in the spa. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention seeks to provide a spa speaker system that consumes less space behind the spa wall, is less costly and less complex. The invention also seeks to provide a speaker system that is easy to install and use and includes a speaker housing that can be easily and independently extended and retracted. 
   One embodiment according to the invention comprises a spa speaker system having a housing with a speaker mounted within it. The housing is movably mounted to a track and the housing is extendible and retractable from the top of the track. A spring is included that urges the housing to extend from the top of the track. A latching mechanism is operable to hold the housing in its retracted position. The latching mechanism is thereafter operable to release the housing, with the housing extending from the track when the housing is released by the mechanism. 
   A further embodiment according to the invention comprises a system for providing audio to a reservoir of water. The system comprises a reservoir shell capable of holding water and at least one speaker system mounted to said reservoir shell above the water line. Each of the speaker systems is capable of receiving an audio signal and generating sound toward occupants of the reservoir shell. Each of the speaker systems comprises a speaker housing that is retractable to be hidden behind the reservoir shell and is extendible from the reservoir shell. Each of the speaker housings is extendible independent of the other speaker systems. An audio system generates an audio signal and transmits the signal to the speaker systems. 
   These and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of spa speaker system according to the present invention, in its retracted position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the opposite side of the speaker system in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the speaker system in  FIG. 1 , in its extended position. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the opposite side of the speaker system in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the speaker system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the spring drum used in the speaker system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an elevation view of the spring drum shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the speaker system in  FIG. 1 , taken along section lines  8 — 8 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the speaker system in  FIG. 3 , taken along section lines  9 — 9 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another spa speaker system according to the present invention, with dual ports; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a spa using spa speaker systems according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1–4  show one embodiment of a spa speaker system  10  according to the present invention. Most of the system&#39;s components are formed from a water impervious plastic such as CPVC, PVC, or ABS. The speaker system  10  is particularly adapted to be integrated with a spa so that it can be extended from a surface of the spa above the waterline, and retracted below the surface when not in use. 
   The spa speaker system  10  includes an elongated housing  12  that has a generally clam-shaped cross section and houses a speaker (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The housing  12  has a number of horizontal and parallel slots  13  through its surface that together cover a circular area having a diameter approximately equal the diameter of the face of the housing&#39;s speaker (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The speaker is mounted in the housing so that sound from speaker emits through the slots  13 . 
   The speaker system  10  further comprises a U-shaped retaining track  16  with a housing retainer  18  mounted horizontally at the top of the track  16 . The retainer has a shape that is similar to the cross-section of the housing  12 . The retainer  18  has a sleeve  20  that extends part of the way down the track  16 , with the sleeve&#39;s cross-section also having a shape similar to the housing&#39;s cross-section. The housing  12  is mounted within the track  16  and closely fits within the retainer  18  and sleeve  20 , with the housing  12  free to move up and down within the retainer  18  and sleeve  20 . 
   Speaker systems according to the invention can be mounted in many different devices and in many different locations. Speaker system  10  is particularly adapted to use in an acrylic or fiberglass spa on the top horizontal surface around the spa that is above the waterline. The spa can have one or more speaker systems, each of which requires a hole in the horizontal surface. Each hole is shaped similar to the housing and sleeve&#39;s cross-section, but slightly larger than the sleeve  20 . Notches are also provided on opposite sides of the hole for the track  16 . The retainer  18  and track  16  combination are inserted into the hole with a close fit between the hole and the sleeve. The retainer  18  rests on the surface of the spa and the track  16  is hidden below the surface. A gasket, O-ring, or other sealant such as silicon, can be included between the retainer  18  and the surface  102  to provide a watertight seal between the two. Screws  22  are turned into the spa through the retainer holes  24  to mount the retainer  18  to the spa. 
   The track  16  has vertical members  26  and  28  that each has a respective longitudinal rail  30 ,  32  running most of its length, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The housing  12  has longitudinal slots  34 ,  36  (also shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) on opposite sides of the housing  12 , each of which runs the length of the housing  12 . When the housing is mounted in the track  16 , each of the rails  30 ,  32  fits within a respective housing slot  34 ,  36 . When the housing  12  extends and retracts, the slots  34 ,  36  ride on the rails  32 ,  34 . 
   A spring  38  is included to provide the force necessary to extend the housing  12  from the track  16 . Many different custom and commercially available springs can be used, with a suitable spring being a constant force coil spring such as those provided by Stock Drive Product/Sterling Instrument (SDP/SI) under part numbers A3X50-SH10J29 and A3X50-Sh10K29. 
   The spring  38  comprises a pre-stressed strip of metal, which tightly turns around itself in successive turns to form a coil. The spring can be mounted at many different locations in different embodiments of a speaker system according to the invention. The speaker system  10  includes a notch  40  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) at the base of the housing  12  having a size and shape to house the spring  38 . The spring  38  is free to rotate within the notch to unwind the spring  38  from the notch when the end  42  of the spring  38  is extended. The pre-stress in the spring  38  urges the spring to rewind back on itself in the notch  40 . 
   In different embodiments of a speaker system according to the invention, the spring end  42  can be attached at different locations. In the speaker system  10 , the end  42  is attached to the outside surface of the sleeve  20 , at the base of the retainer  18 , with part of the spring  38  resting against the outside surface of the sleeve  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the housing  12  is retracted into the track  16 , the spring  38  unwinds and extends from the notch  40 . In this position, the extended spring  38  is urged to rewind back into the notch  40  and this urging provides a strong enough spring force to extend the housing  12  from the track  16 . At the same time however, the spring force is such that the housing  12  can be conveniently pushed back into the track  16  by a spa occupant until it is fully retracted. 
   With the end  42  of the spring  38  attached to the sleeve  20  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the bottom edge  44  of the sleeve  20  provides a stop for the extension of the housing  12  from the retaining track  16 . As the housing  12  extends from its retracted position, the notch  40  passes the bottom edge  44  so that the bottom edge  44  is between the notch  40  and the extended section of the spring  38  that rests against the outside surface of the sleeve  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The sleeve  20  prevents the spring from rewinding any further, which stops the extension of the housing  12  from the sleeve  20 . 
   The sleeve  20  also provides lateral support for the housing  12  when it is extended from the track  16 . If the housing  12  is bumped or jarred laterally, the portion of the housing  12  within the sleeve strikes the interior surface of the sleeve  20 . This support helps keep the housing  12  from being jarred off the track rails  30 ,  32  a spa occupant bumps the housing  12  when it is extended. 
   The track  16  also has bottom horizontal member  46  that runs between the bottom ends of the vertical members  26 ,  28  to form the bottom of the U-shaped track  16 . A rectangular segment  48  is mounted longitudinally along the inside surface of the horizontal member  46 , between the lower inside surfaces of the vertical members  26 ,  28 . The segment  48  provides a stop for the retraction of the housing  12  and provides a vertical surface for mounting a latching mechanism  50 , which holds the housing  12  in its retracted position. Many different latching mechanisms  50  can be used with a preferred mechanism being a touch releasable latch, which allows the housing  12  to be released from the latch by a downward pressure on the housing  12 . One suitable latching mechanism is the PR-21P Non-magnetic Touch Latch, from Lamp Brand by Sugatsune. It comprises an arm  100  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) mounted to the bottom of the housing  12  that is grabbed by the latch  50  when the housing  12  is retracted. When a downward pressure is applied to the retracted/latched housing  12  to move it down slightly, the latch  50  releases the arm  100  and the housing  12  is free to extend from the track  16 . 
   An aesthetic cap  52  is included on top of the housing  12 , with the cap having a shape that is similar to, but slightly larger than, the retainer  18 . The cap  52  covers the top of the housing  12  and when the housing is retracted, the cap  52  covers the retainer  18  and the heads of the screws  22 . A speaker cable  54  transmits an audio signal to the speaker within the housing  12  causing the speaker to emit sound. The cable  54  passes into the interior of the housing  12  through a hole in the base of the housing  12 . The hole also allows water to drain out of the housing  12 . 
     FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the speaker system  10  showing its internal components. The same reference numerals are used to refer to the components in  FIG. 5  that are the same as those in  FIGS. 1–4 . 
   First and second housing halves  56 ,  58  are mounted together to form the housing  12  (referenced in  FIGS. 1–4 ), which houses a speaker  60 . The second  58  half is deeper than the first half and the surface of the first half  56  has less curvature than that of the second half  58 . The face  62  of the speaker  60  can be fit adjacent to the inside surface of the first half  56  adjacent to the circle of slots  13 . The second half  58  is deep enough to house most of the speaker  60  with the sound produced by the speaker directed toward the first half  56  and through the slots  13 , so that sound from the speaker  60  emits from the housing  12  through the slots  13 . 
   The second half  58  has four internal speaker posts  64  that extend horizontally from its inside surface toward the first half  56 . Each of the posts  64  has a threaded hole  66  that mates with one of four speaker screws  68 . Each screw  68  passes through one of the speaker holes  70  and is tightened into one of the threaded holes  66 . The head of each screw  68  has a larger diameter than the speaker holes  70 , so that the screws  68  can securely mount the speaker  60  to the second half  58 . 
   The second half  58  also has four internal mounting posts  72  for mounting the first half  56  to the second half  58 , with each of the posts  72  extending horizontally from the second half&#39;s inside surface toward the first half  56 . Each mounting post  72  is hollow and has an end hole  74  through which mounting screws  78  pass from the outside surface of the second half  58 . Each of the mounting screws  78  mates with a threaded hole (not shown) on the inside surface of the first half  56 . The head of each screws  78  has a greater diameter than the end holes  74 , so that the screws  78  can securely mount the second half  58  to the first half  56  when the screws  78  are fully turned into the first half&#39;s threaded holes. 
   A signal can be transmitted to the speaker  60  in many different ways, including but not limited to, conductive wire or wireless transmission. In the speaker system  10 , the signal is sent via a conventional speaker cable  54 , which has two conductive wires  79 ,  80 . The wire  79 ,  80  can be connected to the speaker  60  using many different methods, with a preferred method being clamps  82 ,  84 , each of which is connected to the end of a respective wire  79 ,  80 . The clamps  82 ,  84  are then clamped to a respective speaker input. 
   In the speaker  10 , the coil spring  38  is mounted to a spring drum  86 , which is then housed within the notch  40 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  show a drum  86  according to the present invention, which has end pins  88 ,  90  that fit within slots in the notch  40 , with only slot  92  shown in  FIG. 5 . The drum  86  is securely mounted in the notch  40 , but is free to rotate and the spring  38  is wound around the drum fins  94 . When the spring  38  and drum  86  combination are mounted in the notch  40  and the end  42  of the spring  38  is pulled from the notch  40 , the drum  86  rotates in the notch  40  about its pins  88 ,  90 . When the pulling pressure is released from the end  42  of the spring  38 , the spring&#39;s pre-stress causes it to rewind, which causes the drum  86  to rotate in the opposite direction to rewind the spring  38  onto the drum  86 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 5 , latching screws  96  are included to mount the latch  50  to the segment  48  and arm screws  98  are included to mount a latch arm  100  to the bottom of the second half  58 . It should be appreciated that where screws are used to mount different features or mechanisms together, many other mounting methods can be used including gluing or clamping. 
     FIG. 8  shows a sectional view of the speaker system  10  mounted to the horizontal surface  102  of a spa. The speaker system  10  is in its retracted position, with the housing  12  retracted into the track  16 . The housing  12  and track  16  are hidden below the horizontal surface  102 . The spring  38  is extended from the notch  40  and in this position the spring is urged to rewind on the drum  86 , which provides an urging to extend the housing  12  from the track  16 . To hold the housing  12  within the track against this urging, the latch  50  engages the arm  100 . The cap  52  covers the retainer  18  so that only the cap  52  and the edge of the retainer  18  are visible. 
   To extend the housing  12  from the track  16  a downward pressure is applied to the cap  52 , which moves the housing  12  down slightly and causes the latch  50  to release the arm  100 . This frees the spring  38  to rewind around the drum  86 , which in turn causes the housing  12  to extend from the track and the spa surface  102 . 
     FIG. 9 . shows the speaker system  10  in its fully extended position, with the housing  12  extended from the track  16 , above the spa&#39;s horizontal surface  102 . The notch  40  is at the bottom edge  44  of the sleeve  20  with a section of the spring  38  remaining extended from the notch  40  and resting against the outside surface of the sleeve  20 . The bottom edge of the sleeve  20  provides a stop for the extension of the housing, as described above. The speaker cable  54  is pulled up as the housing extends from the track  16 . The speaker wire  54  should be long enough as installed to move up and down with the housing  12  while not interfering with its extension and retraction. 
     FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of a spa speaker system  110  according to the present invention that is similar to the speaker system  10  shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ,  8  and  9 , but includes ports  112 ,  114  that are commonly referred to as acoustic tuned base reflex ports, tune ports or base reflex ports (“ports”). The ports are designed to the specifications of the speaker  116  and the cubic volume of the speaker housing  118 . Each of the ports  112 ,  114  is a hole through the housing that has a respective shoulder  120 ,  122  that extends to the interior of the housing  118 . The diameter of each of the ports  112 ,  114  and the depth of their respective shoulders  120 ,  122 , are engineered so that the low end frequency response of the speaker is enhanced. For instance, the typical low end frequency response of a typical speaker  116  in the housing without ports is approximately 20 Hz, while the same speaker  116  in a housing  118  has a response of 50 Hz. With the ports  112 ,  114 , the speaker  116  in the housing  118  has superior low-end sound quality compared to stand alone speakers or speakers without ports. 
   In many conventional speaker housings a single port is used. However, the housing  118  has a clam shaped cross section, which results in a reduced housing depth. To obtain the desired low-end sound quality with this reduced housing depth the speaker housing has two ports that give the same or better low-end response compared to a conventional single port in a speaker system with a circular cross-section. In other embodiments of the speaker system  110 , a different number of ports can be included in different locations on the housing. 
     FIG. 11  shows a spa  130  with a plurality of spa speaker systems  10  arranged on the horizontal surface  132  around the edge of the spa  130 . Speaker systems according to the present invention can also be arranged at many different locations and can be included in other reservoirs of water such as a pool, hot tub, or bathtub. The spa&#39;s plumbing system  131  includes pumps, filters and conduits, and the plumbing system can consume much of the space behind the spa wall. An audio system  134  generates an audio signal to be transmitted to the speaker systems  10  over speaker cable  136 , although the audio signal can also be transmitted to the speakers wirelessly. In a wireless embodiment the speaker systems  10  would have a wireless receiver to receive the wireless audio signal. The audio system  134  can be any apparatus that generates an audio signal including but not limited to a television, compact disc player, receiver, tape player, digital video disc player, VHS player, etc. The audio system  134  can be remote to or part of the spa  130 . The housings of each speaker system can be extended alone or in combination with other housings. The generally oval cross-section of each housing allows each speaker system to be mounted on a smaller horizontal surface compared to a conventional housing having the same sized speaker and a housing having a round cross-section. This allows the speaker system  10  to fit in locations where a conventional speaker system might not fit. 
   Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations, other versions are possible. Different components can be used in speaker systems according to the invention and the speaker system components can be arranged in different ways. For instance, different springs can be used and can be attached to the speaker system in different locations. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the preferred versions described above.