Abstract:
A housing for electronic devices such as loudspeakers has a control panel on a first surface and a door hingedly connected to and adjacent to the panel. An opening mechanism releases the door from a closed position, allowing rotation of the door about an axis that extends through the hinged connection of the door and the housing such that the door continues movement until the door is positioned along a second surface of the housing and the panel is exposed. When in the fully opened position, the door may be received by a recess in the housing. When the housing is resting upon a surface, the door may be placed in a partially opened position wherein it lies flat on the surface.

Description:
[0001]     This application includes material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of access doors for electronic equipment, and in particular to a loudspeaker having a door for covering a panel with controls.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Electronics and accessories are often configured to have a contemporary design while maximizing performance and efficiency. In a home or office, it is desirable to incorporate visually appealing, contemporary accessories along with other components in a room or at a workstation. In particular, loudspeakers that accompany a computer, gaming system, or other audio system should be designed to be aesthetically pleasing due to their placement near a focal point of the room or workstation.  
         [0004]     The design of conventional loudspeakers for a computer, gaming system, or other audio system is often limited by a control panel for power, volume, bass, treble, balance, or jacks for input/output. The knobs and buttons on the control panel are undesirable in a contemporary design aiming to offer minimal elements exposed to the user. Often, knobs and buttons are positioned on the front of the loudspeaker housing for accessibility to the user. However, the contemporary design and clean lines of the loudspeaker are often sacrificed due to the unsightly location of the control panel, and the controls are exposed to inadvertent or unauthorized manipulation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a control panel door for electronic devices that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a loudspeaker has a control panel positioned on the front surface of its housing to maintain the accessibility of the controls. A door is positioned over the control panel to conceal the controls when they are not in use. When the door is opened, the door pivots around the housing to the bottom of the housing where the door is concealed from view by a recess in the housing. The control panel is exposed and the door remains hidden.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, a loudspeaker housing includes at least one speaker driver positioned on a front face of the loudspeaker housing. A panel is provided on a first surface of the loudspeaker housing, the panel having a loudspeaker control mechanism, an input jack, and an output jack, or the like. A door is hingedly connected to and adjacent to the panel, the door having an open position and a closed position such that the door covers all or part of the panel when the door is in the closed position and the door exposes the at least one component of the panel when the door is in the open position. An opening mechanism is provided on the loudspeaker housing for releasing the door from the closed position. The operation of the opening mechanism allows the unobstructed rotation of the door about an axis that extends through the hinged connection of the door and the loudspeaker housing such that the door continues movement until the door is positioned along a second surface of the loudspeaker housing, exposing at least one component of the panel. A spring mechanism is proximate the hinged connection of the door for allowing movement of the door. The door may rotate through an unobstructed path of approximately 270 degrees from the first surface to the second surface. A recessed region in the second surface of the loudspeaker housing accommodates the door. The door is substantially flush with the first surface of the loudspeaker housing when the door is in the closed position.  
         [0008]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a loudspeaker housing includes at least one loudspeaker driver, at least one control located on a front surface of the loudspeaker housing, and a door hingedly attached along the edge between the front surface and a bottom surface of the loudspeaker housing, the door concealing the control from view when in a closed position. A door opening mechanism is positioned to release or secure the door on the front surface or side surface of the loudspeaker housing. Activation of the door opening mechanism releases the door from the closed position and allows the door to pivot approximately 270 degrees to an open position and expose the control. A spring mechanism biases movement of the door. A recess is provided in the bottom surface of the housing to receive the door. The door may be approximately aligned with the front surface or side surface in the open or closed position.  
         [0009]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0010]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of at least one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]     In the drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1   a  is a front view of a pair of loudspeakers according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1   b  is a rear view of a pair of loudspeakers according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of a loudspeaker according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective and side views, respectively, of a loudspeaker control panel door in operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a loudspeaker with a door in an open position according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of a loudspeaker with a door in a fully open position according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4   b  is a bottom view of a loudspeaker with a door in a fully open position according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view through the line A-A of  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a an exploded view of the loudspeaker according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Reference will now be made in detail to illustrative embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  to  1   c , a pair of speaker housings  100 ,  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The speaker housings  100 ,  110  may be connected to any type of audio system, such as a gaming system, personal computer, portable media player, stereo receiver, or other audio source known to one of ordinary skill in the art, or may be integrated into a portable media reproduction system such as that shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/836,113 filed Apr. 30, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The speaker housings  100 ,  110  may be positioned on a desk or shelf, mounted on a wall, mounted on speaker stands, or any other known configuration of positioning loudspeakers.  
         [0024]     The speaker housings  100 ,  110  have loudspeaker drivers  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135  positioned on a front surface  105 ,  115  of the speaker housings  100 ,  110 . Although this exemplary embodiment has two drivers in each speaker housing, any number of drivers and speaker housings may be used, as appreciated by one of ordinary skill. In one embodiment, the speaker housing  110  includes an audio amplifier (not shown). A cable  160  is used to connect the speaker housing  100  with the speaker housing  110  so that speaker housings  100 ,  110  can share a power source, audio source, and controls.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1   b , a rear view of the speaker housings  100 ,  110  is shown. The speaker housings  100 ,  110  have a plurality of cables and jacks for power as well as receiving and sending audio signals and/or data. However, the speaker housings  100 ,  110  can have any wiring configuration known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In this exemplary embodiment having left and right stereo speaker housings  100 ,  110 , cable  160  connects right speaker housing  100  to a jack  165  in left speaker housing  110 . A jack  175  connects a power cord  170  for supplying power to the speaker housings  100 ,  110 . Alternatively, speaker housings  100 ,  110  may be battery-powered or receive power from the audio source. An input jack  185  connects a cable  180  to a personal computer, gaming system, personal media player or other audio source. An auxiliary input jack  195  is provided for secondary uses other than those connected to jack  185 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   c , a door  220  on speaker housing  110  is shown in a closed position. When in a closed position, the door  220  is substantially flush with the front surface  115  of speaker housing  110 . It should be noted that the “front” surface as referred to herein can be any surface of the housing which includes a control panel. In one embodiment, a lower edge of the door  220  is hinged to the speaker housing  110  at an edge proximate the front surface  115  and a bottom surface  145 . The door  220 , therefore, revolves around an axis that extends along the edge between the front surface  115  and the bottom surface  145 . In one embodiment, the hinge may be located on another edge of the door  220 , depending on the positioning of the door  220  about the speaker housing  110 . The door  220  may be coupled to the speaker housing  110  with a hinge, or with alternative means of pivotably, rotatably, or otherwise mounting the door, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill. In one embodiment, the door  220  has a spring mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 6  and discussed in detail below, housed proximate the hinge to assist in the movement of the door  220 . The door may take various forms, including that of a flat or curved solid surface, a perforated surface, a gate that simply obstructs access, or the like.  
         [0027]     Situated on the housing of speaker housing  110  proximate an upper edge of the door  220  is an opening mechanism  150 , which is used to open the door  220  and to secure the door  220  in a closed position. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the opening mechanism  150  is a releasable latch mechanism. The opening mechanism, however, may be any releasable and securable mechanism known to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0028]     Upon activation of the opening mechanism  150 , the door  220  pivots or swings about an edge of the speaker housing  110 . Referring to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a door  220  is illustrated in various stages of operation. The door  220  is preferably hinged to a speaker housing  110  at an edge  225  proximate a front surface  115  and a bottom surface  145 . In the closed position (FIGS.  1   a  and  1   c ), a hook  245  on the door  220  grips a latching component  240  on an opening mechanism or button  150 . In one embodiment, a user  210  activates the opening mechanism  150  by applying pressure to the opening mechanism  150 . In one embodiment, the opening mechanism  150  can be configured such that the user applies pressure in a direction away from the door  220 , towards the door  220 , or any other direction. In one embodiment, the opening mechanism  150  can be positioned behind door  220 , whereby the user activates the opening mechanism  150  by apply pressure to the door  220  in an area proximate the opening mechanism  150 . By activating the opening mechanism  150 , the latching component  240  is disengaged from, and allows the hook  245  on the door  220  to release. In one embodiment, when the opening mechanism  150  is activated, the spring mechanism provides a force for pivoting the door  220 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view of section A-A in  FIG. 1   a , and  FIG. 6 , an exploded view, a mechanism for releasing and securing a door  220  is shown. In one embodiment, a button  150  is depressed, applying a downward force via a downwardly extending flange  535  to a frictionally engaged latch  240 . A second flange  533  extending upwardly from the latch  240  is in frictional engagement with a hook  245  on the door  220 . As the latch  240  moves downwards, the second flange  533  also moves downwards until no longer engaging the hook  245 . The door  220  is thereby released. In one embodiment, a spring  550  at the hinge  560  enables the door  220  to pivot.  
         [0030]     The door  220  pivots around the axis of rotation from the front surface  115  of the speaker housing  110 . If unobstructed, the door  220  pivots around the axis of rotation to a recess  265  on the bottom surface  145 . The door  220  travels a path  280 ,  270  ( FIG. 2   a ) to an end position on the bottom surface  145  when the door  220  has an unobstructed route of travel. In one embodiment, the bottom surface  145  has a recess  265  to conceal the door  220  when the door  220  is in the end position. As a result, the access or control panel  290 , which is concealed behind the door  220  when the door  220  is in the closed position, is now accessible and the door  220  is hidden from view. The control panel  290  may be any panel, face, etc. which includes at least one button, knob, dial, input/output jack, display, LED, keypad, indicator, or the like.  
         [0031]     When the bottom surface  145  of the speaker housing  110  is placed on a desk or other surface, the door  220  has an obstructed path. As a result, the door  220  follows a path  280 , whereby the door  220  is restricted by the surface of the obstruction. In one embodiment, the obstructed door  220  remains visible. In one embodiment, sufficiently lifting the speaker housing  110 , however, will cause the door to continue along path  270  and position itself on the underside  145  of the speaker housing  110 . In one embodiment, a sliding mechanism is provided (not shown) to permit door  220  to slide at least partially into recess  265  when its path  270  is obstructed.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a speaker housing  110  is shown having a door  220  in a partially open position, wherein the speaker housing  110  has been opened as it is resting upon a resting surface such as a table, desk, or the like (not shown). A bottom surface  145  of the speaker housing  110  is situated on the resting surface. As a result, when the door  220  is opened, the door  220  is unable to complete a rotation to an end position at the bottom surface  145  of the speaker housing  110 . In one embodiment, the door  220  remains substantially aligned with the resting surface. Nevertheless, a control panel  290  is exposed when the door  220  is in this partially open position. If desired, sufficiently lifting the speaker housing  110  will cause the door  220  to have an unobstructed path and, thus, to pivot to the recess  265  on the bottom  145  of the speaker housing  110 .  
         [0033]     In the end position or in a partially open position of the door  220 , a control panel  290  is revealed. In one embodiment, the control panel  290  includes one or more controlling mechanisms  295  for controlling for the properties of the loudspeaker drivers  120 ,  125 ,  130 ,  135 . The controlling mechanisms  295  may be buttons, knobs, input jacks, output jacks, keypad, or the like. For example, the control panel  290  may have a power control, volume control, bass control, treble control, balance control, an input jack, or an output jack. In one embodiment, the control panel  290  includes at least one display, LED, indicator, or the like for indicating one or more properties of the system.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , a speaker housing  110  is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the speaker housing  110  may be mounted directly to a wall from the back surface of the speaker housing  110 , may rest upon a support surface or speaker stand, may be mounted to a wall or ceiling via a mounting bracket, or may employ other mounting or support means. In the open position, a door  220  is able to complete a pivot of approximately 270 degrees to an end position in a recess  265  on a bottom surface  145  of the speaker housing  110 . Because the door  220  is shown in the fully open position, only a portion of a hinged component  225  of the door  220  is exposed to a user from a frontal view of speaker housing  110 . A control panel  290  is exposed, and the user is able to view the control panel  290  and/or adjust the controls  295  thereupon.  
         [0035]     After the user utilizes the control panel  290 , the user may secure the door  220  in a closed position to again conceal the control panel  290 . Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the user  210  returns the door  220  in the direction opposite that shown at  270 ,  280  to the closed position. The latching component  240  secures the hook  245  on the door  220 . As seen in  FIG. 1   a , when secured by the opening mechanism  150 , the door  220  remains in a closed position to cover the control panel.  
         [0036]     Although certain embodiments of the present invention are directed towards loudspeakers, the present invention may be used in any similar field wherein it is desirable to utilize a door for concealing a panel, controls, or the like.  
         [0037]     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.