Abstract:
An audio amplifier having a variably configurable housing, which may be mounted to an interior surface of a motor vehicle. The housing is formed in two complementing housing sections mutually joined by a hinge, tether, or other connector. A power supply is contained in one housing section and an audio output module is contained in the other housing section. The power supply and audio output module may be connected by flexible signal conductors to accommodate pivot of the two housing sections relative to one another. A heat sink comprising cooling fins and communications and power terminals may be disposed on the exterior of the housing sections to enable conventional connection to an associated audio system. The hinge may incorporate a fixing element which releasably holds the two housing sections at a selected degree of pivot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/025,577, filed Feb. 1, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to amplifiers for audio sound systems, and more particularly to an amplifier which is fabricated in a two-piece housing, wherein the two pieces are hinged to one another. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicular audio sound systems and components thereof are widely available as aftermarket devices intended to be installed in a motor vehicle which has been purchased by a consumer. The components of sound systems are typically made available to the public by manufacturers who are specialists in their field, and who are not manufacturers of automobiles. The sound system components are intended for installation in the vehicular products of many different manufacturers and models of vehicles. Therefore, the components are not designed with precise fit within any particular vehicle. 
     Components such as amplifiers are typically installed in motor vehicles in areas which offer a generally protected and concealed location. A typical example is in the trunk of an automobile. However, the nature of spaces that are protected and concealed, given that automobile surfaces may be irregularly contoured, may result in an otherwise suitable space or location within a vehicle that is nearly but not quite adequate for installing a component such as an amplifier flush against a structural wall of the vehicle body. 
     This leaves the audio installer with a problem as to how best cope with this misfit. One answer is to mount a component such as an amplifier spaced apart from a body wall. Such a mounting may well forego the benefits of nesting the component securely against the wall. For example, the component may project into used or occupied space such that it risks damage by contact with objects being stored in the vehicle. This not only risks damage to the component, but also intrudes into and renders less useful the selected area of the vehicle. The component may also become objectionably conspicuous or exposed to view. 
     Misfit may occur even where a manufacturer has left space for a component such as an amplifier. For example, the space designed into a vehicle body may have a footprint of ten inches by twelve inches, whereas a particular amplifier may have footprint dimensions of eight inches by sixteen inches. 
     A need exists in the prior art for a component such as an audio amplifier which displays ability to accommodate differently configured and dimensioned mounting spaces within motor vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention answers the above need by providing an amplifier which is adjustable as to its outer configuration, yet which mounts to the vehicle and connects to wiring systems conventionally. To these ends, a novel amplifier is provided wherein the housing is formed in two mating, mutually hinged parts. The hinge may have a manually releasable fastener disposed to secure the two parts in a selected relationship. A power supply is housed in one section and the output module is housed in the other section. The power supply is connected to the output module by a flexible cable long enough to accommodate significant pivot of the two housing sections about the hinge. 
     Advantages of this arrangement are firstly, that the installation footprint or outer configuration of the amplifier is adjustable, so that many previously unusable spaces in vehicle bodies can now be utilized for mounting the amplifier, and secondly, that physical separation of the power supply from the output module reduces distortions to reproduced sounds due to unwanted inputs from electromagnetic fields to the output module from the power supply. Mounting tabs for fastening the amplifier to vehicle surfaces, and terminals for accepting a wiring harness may remain conventional. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an amplifier which displays adjustability in its outer configuration, to better conform to limited or irregular spaces for mounting in a motor vehicle. 
     A further object of the invention is to be able to secure the parts of the amplifier in a selected configuration. 
     Another object of the invention is to isolate the power supply from the output module to reduce distortion of reproduced sound. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an amplifier which is adjustable as to outer configuration, according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the amplifier of  FIG. 1 , showing an outer configuration which is adjusted from that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the amplifier of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an amplifier which is adjustable as to outer configuration, according to at least one further aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the amplifier of  FIG. 4 , showing an outer configuration which is adjusted from that shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the amplifier of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective detail view of a heat sink which may be employed with an amplifier according to an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an environmental perspective view of an amplifier which is adjustable as to outer configuration, according to at least one further aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an amplifier  100  which is adjustable as to outer configuration, comprising a housing which further comprises a first housing section  102  and a second housing section  104 . A hinge  106  which may be disposed to pivotably connect the first housing section  102  to the second housing section  104  may be located at the periphery of the first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the housing of the amplifier  100  is seen to have an overall length  108 , an overall width  110 , and an overall height  112  which may be less in magnitude than those of the length  108  and the width  110 . The height  112 , shown at the first housing section  102 , may be about equal to that of the second housing section  104 , with the consequence that the overall configuration of the amplifier  100  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3  may, apart from the hinge  106 , be described as that of a rectangular slab or parallelepiped. It will also be seen in  FIG. 3  that the overall height  112  may be less in magnitude than those of the overall length  108  and the overall width  110 . 
     Electrical terminals  114 ,  116 , and  118  may be disposed along that face  120  of the first housing section  102  which shows the height  112 . The electrical terminals  114 ,  116 ,  118  may for example respectively accommodate connection to an audio input signal, an audio output signal, and electrical power. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the hinge  106  may be of any known type which enables the first housing section  102  to pivot about a rotational axis  122  (see  FIG. 3 ) relative to the second housing section  104 . The rotation axis  122  may extend in the direction of the height  112  of the first housing section  102  and of the second housing section  104 . The hinge  106  may be located at the periphery  124  of the first housing section  102  and at the periphery  126  of the second housing section  104 . The hinge  106  may comprise a setscrew of which the head  128  is visible in  FIG. 1 . The arrangement including the setscrew functions as a fixing element disposed to secure the first housing section  102  to the second housing section  104  in a selected mutual orientation. The head  128  may bear a slot such as the cruciform slot  130  is dimensioned and configured to be driven by a screwdriver such as a phillips head screwdriver (not shown) to secure the first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104  in selected mutual orientations, and to release the first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104  from the selected mutual orientations. 
     The first housing section  102  may contain a power supply  132  which is dimensioned and configured to be received within and housed by the first housing section  102 . The second housing section may contain an audio output module  134  which is dimensioned and configured to be received within and housed by the second housing section  104 . Electrically operated functional components (such as the power supply  132 ) of the first housing section  102  may be connected to the functional components (such as the audio output module  134 ) of the second housing section  104  by a flexible cable  136 . It should be understood that the flexible cable  136  is merely representative of any form of flexible circuitry which may be disposed to operably connect the electrical components of the amplifier  100 . The flexible cable  136  may contain as many individual conductors as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish functional connection of the components. These conductors may be bundled together as one, as is represented by the flexible cable  136 , or may comprise separated conductors (not shown), which may be spaced apart from one another. 
     The first housing section  102  may comprise mounting feet or tabs  138 ,  140 , each of which may project from the first housing section  102  in a direction perpendicular to the height  112  of the first housing section  102 . Likewise, the second housing section  104  may comprise mounting feet or tabs  142 ,  144  which may project from the second housing section  104  in a direction perpendicular to the height  112  of the second housing section  104 . Each mounting tab such as any or all of the mounting tabs  138 ,  140 ,  142 ,  144  may comprise a generally planar member such as the member  146  bearing a hole such as the hole  148  extending through the member  146 , for receiving a fastener such as a screw (not shown). 
     The first housing section  102  may comprises at least one cooling fin such as the cooling fins  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160 ,  162 ,  164  thereon. Similarly, the second housing section  104  may comprise at least one cooling fin thereon, such as the cooling fins  166 ,  168 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180 . The fins such as any or all of the fins  150  . . .  180  may comprise part of a heat sink such as the heat sink  182 , seen in  FIG. 7 . The heat sink  182  may comprise a heat conductive base plate or substrate  184  from which project fins  186 ,  188 ,  190 , which fins  186 ,  188 ,  190  may project to the exterior of a housing section such as the housing section  102  to dissipate heat generated by operation of electrical and electronic components of the amplifier  100 , such as the power supply  132  and the audio output module  134 . 
       FIG. 2  shows adjustment of the outer configuration of the amplifier  100 . The second housing section  104  may be pivoted relative to the first housing section  102  throughout a continuous range of adjustment represented by the arrow  192 . The range of adjustment may extend such that with the first housing section  102  remaining its location illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the second housing section  104  may be swung such that it moves to the position indicated by the broken line  194 . The amount of pivot may exceed that shown and described herein if desired. The first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104  may be releasably locked for fixed in a selected configuration by tightening the setscrew  128 , which bears on the hinge  106  in a way to selectively prevent and enable rotation of the components of the hinge  106 . 
     It will be seen that the overall length (corresponding to the length  108 ) of the amplifier  100  is less and the overall width (corresponding to the width  110 ) is greater in the configuration shown in  FIG. 2  than were the case with the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an amplifier  200  according to at least one other aspect of the invention. The amplifier  200  has a first housing section  202 , a second housing section  204 , and a hinge  206 . The amplifier  200  may also have the same functional internal components, mounting tabs or feet, and cooling fins as the amplifier  100 . Because these components are structurally and functionally similar to their counterparts of the amplifier  100 , redundant description is unnecessary. One significant difference between the amplifier  100  and the amplifier  200  is that in the latter, the hinge  206  is located, when considered in the plan view of  FIG. 4 , inside the periphery of the second housing section  204 . Functionally, the hinge  206  may be identical to the hinge  106 , including locking and releasing functions. The rotational axis  222  of the hinge  206 , although displaced in location from the location of the hinge  106 , may extend in the direction of the height  212  of the second housing section  204 . The rotational axis  222 , the length  208 , the width  210 , and the height  212  of the amplifier  200  are shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , the second housing section  204  can pivot about the rotational axis  222  throughout a range of adjustment represented by the arrow  292 . This range may be extended such that the second housing section  204  may occupy the position indicated in the broken line  294  if desired. 
     A consequence of the arrangement of the amplifier  200  is that the overall footprint or configuration can be more compact than that of the amplifier  100 . The outer housing sections  202  and  204  must be adapted so that a portion of one is received within the other as the second housing section  204  is pivoted. Of course, internal components of the receiving housing section  202  or  204  must be internally located to accommodate reception of the other housing section  204  or  202 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an amplifier  300  according to another aspect of the invention. The amplifier  300  has a first housing section  302 , a second housing section  304 , and a hinge  306  having a rotational axis  322  which is aligned with the width dimension  310 . For reference, the height dimension is shown as arrow  312 , with the length (which is not designated by reference numeral) being the last remaining orthogonal direction. The hinge  306  may otherwise be similar in operation and function to the hinge  106 , for example, having a setscrew  328  which selectively locks and releases the first and second housing section  302  and  304 . As with the amplifier  200 , the amplifier  300  may have the same functional internal components, mounting tabs or feet, and cooling fins as the amplifier  100 . Because these components are structurally and functionally similar to their counterparts of the amplifier  100 , redundant description is once again unnecessary. 
     The range of adjustment of the outer configuration of the amplifier  300 , which is represented by the arrow  392  and which as drawn shows about a ninety degree angle, may range between zero degrees to more than one hundred eighty degrees. This enables mounting of the amplifier  300  on two adjacent environmental surfaces such as a floor surface  2  and a wall surface  4 . Although the floor surface  2  and the wall surface  4  are shown as being mutually perpendicular, it will be apparent that the amplifier  300  can accommodate other mutual angles there between. 
     An amplifier according to one or more aspects of the invention, such as the amplifiers  100 ,  200  and  300 , may have variations from the descriptions as presented herein. For example, locations and natures of mounting tabs such as the mounting tabs  138  . . .  144 , of terminals such as the terminals  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and of cooling fins such as the cooling fins  150  . . .  180  may be modified to suit. Terminals such as the terminals  114 ,  116 ,  118  may project into their respective housing sections such as the housing section  102  instead of projecting outwardly there from. 
     Cooling fins, such as the cooling fins  150  . . .  180 , need not be part of a solid heat sink, such as the heat sink  182 . Fins (not shown) may comprise part of a heat dissipating device such as a heat tube or heat pipe (not shown), which utilizes substances which go through repeating evaporation and condensing cycles as a vehicle of heat transfer. Such devices may be incorporated into an amplifier according to at least one aspect of the invention instead of or in addition to passive heat radiating devices such as the heat sink  182 . 
     Also, components presented in the singular may be provided in the plural, and vice versa. Illustratively, conductors communicating between internal components, such as the cable  136 , may comprise separate cables (not shown). Where feasible, it would be possible to provide a single component rather than a plurality of components. For example, separate mounting tabs such as the mounting tabs  138 ,  140  could be replaced by a single elongated tab (not shown) bearing a series of holes for receiving fasteners. Such an elongated tab may be straight, and located along only one edge of its associated housing section, such as the first housing section  102 , or may be angled to extend along two or even three edges of the associated housing section. 
     Circuitry, which term is used only in a symbolic or representative sense herein, will be understood to comprise the number of conductors, and specific connection schemes necessary to carry out the described functions, as well as supporting apparatus such as terminals, connectors, switches, relays, transducers, circuit breakers, transformers, and voltage dividers, among others. Circuitry and any of its individual components may vary in size, number, location, and logic from that specifically shown or described herein. 
     The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has been described with respect to hinges, such as the hinge  106 , rotatable hinges per se may be replaced by flexible tethers or other devices. Where sufficiently rugged to serve both purposes, the electrical cables which connect components of the first housing section, such as the first housing section  102 , to those of the second housing section, such as the second housing section  104 , may do dual duty as both satisfying needs of electrical connections, and also mechanically coupling the first housing section to the second housing section. 
     A hinge such as the hinge  106  may be replaced by other devices capable of rigidly holding a selected outer configuration or relative position of two housing sections such as the first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104 . Illustratively, devices such as telescoping or otherwise adjustable lockable struts (not shown) may be provided. 
     It should be understood then that hinges such as the hinges  106 ,  206 ,  306 , tethers (not shown), and other connectors of one housing section to the other housing sections, such as the first housing section  102  and the second housing section  104 , may be regarded as housing connectors which are disposed to connect the first housing section to the second housing section in a plurality of mutual orientations. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.