Abstract:
The invention relates to a portable housing, constructed to accommodate an audio or light mixer, the housing having an accommodating frame for the mixer with a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, two sidewalls and an upper side. The housing is constructed in such a manner, that the mixer, in operation, can remain connected with the accommodating frame.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a portable housing, constructed for accommodating an audio or light mixer, the housing having an accommodating frame for the mixer with a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, two sidewalls and an upper side. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PRIOR ART 
     For large public functions or events, mixers are frequently operated in a 19-inch rack, which can no longer be transported by one person. Such racks are equipped with rollers and, frequently with carrying handles. Nevertheless, the racks can only be transported by two persons and then only over short distances. 
     Furthermore, suitcases and/or bags, in which a mixer can be transported and/or stored are already known. However, before a public function or event, the mixer must be taken out of the housing or bag and set up on a table or another suitable device. 
     Such portable audio or light mixers are frequently transported in a hectic atmosphere at the event and, are then removed from thee housing. After the event, such mixers must be taken down once again and packed once more. The conventional housing protects the mixer during transport against impacts, dirt and other external effects and serves to keep the mixer protected and free from dust. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable housing for a mixer that facilitates the setting up and taking down of the mixer at the site of any public function or event. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This objective is accomplished with a portable housing, constructed to accommodate an audio or light mixer, the housing having an accommodating frame for the mixer with a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, two sidewalls and an upper side, the housing being constructed so that the mixer, while being operated, remains connected with the accommodating frame. 
     An advantage is that the mixer remains at least partially protected against impacts, dirt and other effects from the outside, especially in the hectic atmosphere, which is frequently encountered at a public function or event. 
     According to a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the accommodating frame furthermore defines a slide-in opening for accommodating an audio or light effect device. Such effect devices (effect processors), usually with a 19-inch dimension, are frequently operated with a mixer. Known sound effect types are, for instance reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, auto-pan, tap-delay, etc. The effect equipment in a slide-inch space below the mixer is also fastened to accommodating frame so that, when the mixer and the effect device are held in the 19-inch dimension, a transportable mini-rack is defined by the accommodating frame. 
     Preferably, one or more connecting openings are further provided in the housing, especially in the accommodating frame, to connect the mixer and optionally, the effect device. 
     Preferably, the accommodating frame further comprises an operating opening for the mixer, for permitting the mixer to be operated and removed from the accommodating frame. 
     In a particularly preferable embodiment, a hinge mechanism for the mixer is disposed at the accommodating frame and permits the mixer to swivel out of the accommodating frame. Under certain circumstances, by swiveling of the mixer, the connection to electrical leads is facilitated even further. The mixer can also be brought into an inclined position in which it can be operated conveniently by the user. 
     In addition to the operating and connecting opening, further functional openings or functional areas can be provided, such as an operating area, over which at least some of the functions of the mixer can be controlled through the wall of the housing. For example, pushbutton switches or lifting switches can be operated from the outside through a transparent sheet. A further functional opening could be defined by a ventilation opening for the mixer, so that a fan can aspirate surrounding air for cooling purposes or eject heat to the surroundings. The fan opening for the incoming air could also be equipped with a dust filter, which is accommodated in the wall of the housing. Finally, a functional field, transparent to infrared, may be provided, which permits an infrared interface, disposed in the mixer, to be operated while the mixer is left in the housing. 
     In a further advantageous development, the operating and connecting openings can be closed off particularly by doors. It is recommended that all operating and connecting doors be closed for transporting or storing the mixer, in order to protect the mixer against dust or damage. Even during the operation, operating and connecting openings, which are not required, can be covered completely or partly. 
     In a further advantageous development, the covering devices comprise at least one of a covering door, a rear door and a front door. The doors are firmly connected over a hinge with the accommodating frame of the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the doors can be affixed in one piece with the accommodating frame, the hinge being formed by a flexible region of the material of the accommodating frame. Alternatively, a hinge with mutually rotatable mechanical components is formed, in which the covering door, rear door and front door can be constructed from different materials. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, the housing is formed with an accommodating frame of a rigid or stiff material, such as wood or plastic. At the same time, the mixer is taken up completely in this accommodating frame such that the mix er protrudes only insignificantly, if at all, from the accommodating frame. In the case of a rigid or stiff configuration of the accommodating frame, the mixer is protected safely against damage during transport or storage and, also while being operated. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the housing or the accommodating frame are formed at least partly from a flexible textile or textile-like material. In this configuration, the housing can be constructed more easily and possibly more inexpensively. At the same time, the cooling problems can be solved more simply or do not play a role at all. Nevertheless, in order to be able to transport and handle the mixer well and, at the same time, to reduce the risk of damage, the housing may be provided with reinforcing elements and with flexible or shock-absorbing protectors. The reinforcing elements may be constructed, for example, in the form of panels from plastic or wood and preferably from plywood. Such reinforcing elements reinforce the housing without increasing the manufacturing costs or the weight of the housing as a whole significantly. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing elements are enclosed and preferably sewn in between two layers of the textile or textile like material. In this embodiment, the reinforcing elements are not visible either from the outside or from the inside. Corners and edges of the reinforcing elements are covered by the textile or textile-like material. 
     In order to more reliably fix the mixer in the accommodating frame of the housing, fastening rails, to which the mixer can be fixed with detachable fastening means, are provided preferably on the inside at the narrow sides of the housing. The fastening rails are advisably adapted to a panel-shaped reinforcing element, each enclosed at the sidewalls, the panel-shaped reinforcing element extending essentially over the whole of the cross section. The permanent connection, such as the bolting of the mixer and housing is advisable, for stabilizing the whole of the arrangement of housing and mixer, while the mixer being operated remains in the housing. When the present invention relates to a housing adapted to an audio or light mixer, it is understood that space for accommodating an effect device can always be provided, for example, at the front side. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the covering door, preferably the rear door, and the front door can be swiveled about an axis, which extends essentially orthogonally to the side wall of the housing. Preferably, the covering door is swiveled, towards the rear and, can function as a cover for the connecting cable. 
     In a different, alternative embodiment, preferably in the form of a rigid or stiff accommodating frame, the covering devices can be designed so that they may be detached from the accommodating frame of the housing, such that, at the site of the public function or event, the mixer can remain in the housing while it is being set up and connected and only the covering devices are removed for starting up the mixer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described in greater detail below, also with respect to further distinguishing features and advantages, by means of the description of examples and with reference to the attached drawings, in which 
     FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive housing in a perspective view, 
     FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the housing of FIG. 1 in a different perspective view, 
     FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the housing of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the inventive housing in an exploded view, 
     FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the embodiment of FIG. 4, 
     FIG. 6 a  shows the housing, represented in FIG. 4, in a closed form in a first perspective view, 
     FIG. 6 b  shows the housing, represented in FIG. 4, in a closed form in a second perspective view, 
     FIG. 7 shows a third alternative embodiment of the housing in a perspective view, 
     FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of the housing of FIG. 7 in a different perspective view and 
     FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the housing of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the inventive housing is illustrated in a perspective view. The housing  13  comprises an accommodating frame  26  for the mixer with a bottom  12 , a front wall  16 , a rear wall  17 , two sidewalls  14 ,  15  and an open upper side  11 . At least during transport or storage, the mixer is essentially enclosed by the accommodating frame  26 . In operation, the mixer remains connected at least with the accommodating frame  26 . In the embodiment shown here, the accommodating frame  26  comprises a casing  51 , formed from a resistant textile or textile-like material. The front wall  16  has a slide-in opening  43 , which extends approximately over the whole width, and the rear wall  17  has a rectangular, elongated connecting opening  22 . An operating opening  21  is defined by the open upper side  11 , in order to operate a mixer, inserted in the accommodating frame, from above. Covering devices, namely a covering door  23 , a rear door  24  and a front door  25  are disposed at the accommodating frame  26 , which is constructed from a textile or textile-like material. In the present embodiment, the covering door  23 , the rear door  24  and the front door  25  are formed from the same material as the accommodating frame  26 . The accommodating frame  26  comprises one or more layers of the textile or textile-like material, the covering door  23 , the rear door  24  and the front door  25  preferably hanging seamlessly together with the respective layer of the accommodating frame  26 . 
     In order to reinforce the accommodating frame  26  and the covering door  23 , and possibly, the rear door  24  and the front door  25 , the panel-shaped reinforcing elements  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  29  are incorporated between the layers  27 ,  28  of the textile or textile-like material and each extend essentially over the whole surface of the covering door  23 , the bottom  12  and the sidewalls  14 ,  15 . 
     If the covering door  23  is open, a mixer, inserted in the accommodating frame  26 , can remain in the housing while in operation. The necessary connections can be made over the connection opening  22  in the accommodating frame  26 , the cable, taken to the mixer, additionally being covered and protected by the covering door  23 , which has been swung out of the way towards the rear. In addition, there is room in the accommodating frame  26  to accommodate effect devices, which are pushed in from the front and, when the front door  25  is open, can then be operated over the slide-in opening  43  in the front wall  16 . The front door  25  and the rear door  24  can be held in the closed position over Velcro fasteners  32 ,  33 . The covering door  23  is also held in the closed position over Velcro fasteners  32 ,  33  or a different closing device, such as a belt and buckle or a zipper (see FIG. 7,  8 , or  9 ). 
     On the outside of the sidewalls  14 ,  15 , tapes  34  are disposed and preferably sewn, which have rings  38 ,  39  for suspension at a carrying belt. 
     On the inside of the sidewalls  14 ,  15 , as can be seen even better in the sectional view of FIG. 3, fastening rails  50 ,  31  are attached, preferably by being riveted or bolted to the respective, enclosed, panel-shaped reinforcing element  20 . The short fastening rail  30 , which is aligned essentially vertically to the surface of the bottom  12 , serves to connect an effect device at the front side. A fastening rail  31 , which is inclined slightly with respect to the surface of the bottom  12 , extends essentially over the whole width of the sidewall  14 . Fastening rail  31  is used to fix the mixer in the housing  13 . The mixer can preferably be bolted to, snapped on or fastened in some other way to the fastening rail  31 . Both fastening rails  30 ,  31  of the mixer and of the effect device are at a distance from one another and constructed here in such a manner, that they are matched to the 19 inches dimension, which is generally customary. 
     In the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  3 , the sidewall, when viewed from the outside to the inside, comprises a layer  27  of a textile or textile-like material, which lies against one side of the panel-shaped reinforcing element  20 . The same or a similar layer of textile or textile like material is also disposed on the opposite side of the panel-shaped reinforcing element  20 . The two layers around the reinforcing element  20  are connected with one another, so that the reinforcing element  20  is enclosed. Finally, at the inside of the sidewall  14 , the fastening rail  31  is mounted, being connected by a riveted connection with the panel-shaped reinforcing element  20 . 
     In FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment for a housing to accommodate a mixer is shown. The housing  13  of FIGS. 4,  5 ,  6   a  and  6   b  comprises an accommodating frame  26  of a rigid or stiff material, such as wood, plastic or metal. The accommodating frame  26  here also comprises a bottom  12 , two side walls  14 ,  15 , a front wall  16 , and a rear wall  17 . At the upper side  11  of the accommodating frame  26 , opposite the bottom  12 , an operating opening  21  is defined, which can be closed off with a lid  35 . Once again, a slide-in opening  43  is provided in the front wall  16  for the operation of effect devices, which may be inserted in the accommodating frame  26 . In the rear wall  17 , a longitudinally extended connection opening  22  is provided, so the connections of the mixer and optionally of the effect device are accessible from the outside and so that the whole arrangement of mixer, effect device and housing  13  can easily be wired. For transport and storage, the operating opening  21  can be closed off with the lid  35 , the connection opening  22  with a rear cover  37  and the slide-in opening  43  with a front cover  36 , so that the mixer is enclosed on all sides and protected against damage and dust (see FIG. 6 a , FIG. 6 b ). 
     In FIG. 5, a sectional view through the accommodating frame  26  of the housing  13  of FIG. 4 is shown, fastening rails  30 ,  31 , as in FIG. 3, being fastened to the sidewall  14 . The fastening rails  30 ,  31  fix an effect device, which can be operated from the front wall, as well as the mixer in the housing  13 . 
     In FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b , the housing is shown in closed form. Rings  38 ,  39 , are fixed with appropriate fastening plates  40 ,  41  in each case to the outside of the sidewall  14 ,  15  of the housing  13 . A carrying belt (not shown) is attached to the rings  38 ,  39 . Alternatively, the housing can be transported using a carrying handle  42 . 
     The front cover  36 , and the rear cover  37  can be fixed to the underside of the bottom  12  of the housing  13  with further Velcro fasteners. 
     A third alternative embodiment for a housing to accommodate a mixer as well as an effect device is shown in FIG.  7 . In the embodiment shown here, the accommodating frame  26  comprises a casing  51  from a resistant textile or textile-like material, such as a nylon fabric, a reinforcing frame  45 , consisting of metal or plastic profiles  46 , as well as of reinforcing elements  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  29 , which are disposed between the reinforcing frame  45  and are used here as plywood panels between the reinforcing frame  45  of metal or plastic profiles  46 . The basic concept of bottom  12 , sidewalls  14 ,  15 , front wall  16 , rear wall  17  and the operating openings  21  and  32  correspond to the configuration already explained in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  3 . For closing of the operating opening  21  for the mixer, the edge of the covering door  23  is provided with one half of a zipper  29 , the other half of which is correspondingly disposed along the upper edge of the accommodating frame  26  at the casing  51  of the housing. 
     In order to bring the mixer into a desired position, a swinging-out mechanism  47  interacts with the fastening rails  31  at the sidewalls  14 ,  15 , such that the mixer can be swiveled out forwards and upwards out of the operating opening  21 . In order to lock the swiveling mechanism  47  in a desired position, locking profiles  48  are provided, which arrest the fastening rail  31  in a desired angular position relative to the bottom  12 . 
     The casing  51  is provided with interior upholstery  50  for shock insulation and absorption. 
     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims.