Sound accessory for laptop/notebook computers

Sound producing apparatus in the form of a pair of speakers each having a clamp affixed thereto. The clamp in each case defines a pair of relatively moveable opposed jaws which may be opened to attach the speaker to the periphery of the monitor of a laptop/notebook type computer. The clamp is affixed to the housing of the speaker by an additional clamp in a manner which permits the speaker to be vertically adjusted after being attached to the monitor. The clamps are formed as an integral unit which includes a base member having first and second slide members slidably attached to oppositely disposed outwardly facing planar surfaces of the base member with a spring urging each of the slides into a clamped or holding position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to computers and more specifically to 
accessories which may be removably attached to laptop/notebook type 
computers to provide or enhance the audio capabilities of such computers. 
It has become common to utilize audio capabilities with personal computers 
of all types including laptop/notebook type computers (hereinafter 
laptop). This capability is demanded as further expanded uses of personal 
computers becomes prevalent. Computer telephony now permits individuals to 
accomplish telephone communication through the Internet. Telephone 
conferencing is now a frequent occurrence and such also occurs through the 
Internet where the parties have computer telephony capabilities. If 
desired, music may be downloaded from the Internet into a computer 
database and upon command by the user reproduced though the audio 
capability of the computer. As is also well known to those skilled in the 
art, one can upon demand have a facsimile transmission which has been 
received reproduced in hard copy or audio as desired. Conferencing 
utilizing both video and audio is also available and as the hardware and 
software become more readily available and the costs decrease such 
video/audio conferencing and communication will become much more 
commonplace. 
When utilizing a stand alone personal computer in an office environment the 
ability to utilize relatively high quality audio reproduction equipment is 
relatively easy and is quite common. However, when utilizing a typical 
laptop type of computer there is either no audio capability for such a 
device or if there is audio capability the speakers contained within the 
laptop type computer are of such low fidelity that in some cases the audio 
information is undecipherable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An audio producing apparatus which may be removably attached to the 
periphery of a laptop-type computer monitor which apparatus includes a 
housing within which a sound reproduction means is contained and means 
affixed to said housing for attaching said apparatus to said monitor, the 
means for attaching comprising a retractable clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is 
illustrated a laptop-type computer 10 which has its monitor 12 opened so 
as to be in an operative position. Affixed to the periphery of the monitor 
12 is audio producing apparatus in the form of speaker enclosure housings 
14 and 16. The left speaker enclosure housing 14 is attached to the left 
edge 18 of the monitor 12 by a means for afixing the speaker enclosure 
housing to the monitor in the form of a retractable clamp 20. A similar 
retractable clamp 22 is utilized to affix the speaker enclosure housing 16 
to the right side 24 of the monitor 12. The speaker enclosures 14 and 16 
are adjustable vertically while in their attached position as illustrated 
by the arrows 26 and 28, respectively. Although in FIG. 1 the audio 
producing apparatus in the form of the speaker enclosure housings 14 and 
16 are shown affixed to the left and right side of the computer monitor 
12, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that an 
alternative arrangement would be to attach a single speaker to the upper 
edge 30 of the monitor 12. Such alternative attachment may be such as to 
provide adjustment toward the left and the right if such is desired, but 
such an adjustment would not be a critical feature. 
Obviously when the computer 10 is to be stowed for transport, the speaker 
enclosure housings 14 and 16 may be readily detachable from the edges 18 
and 24 of the monitor by releasing the clamps 20 and 22, respectively. It 
can thus be seen that the audio producing apparatus of the present 
invention may readily be assembled and adjusted with respect to the 
computer monitor by the user. Such would then provide to the laptop 
computer user the same capabilities of a stand alone, personal computer 
and by attachment to the appropriate telephone lines, can be used to 
provide the audio capabilities for facsimile, music, the Internet, 
conferencing and computer telephony as above described with the same 
fidelity and clarity as exists with the standard personal computers in an 
office environment. 
By reference, now more specifically to FIG. 2 there is shown in perspective 
view the right speaker enclosure housing 16 with the clamp 22 affixed 
thereto but with the speaker enclosure housing 16 removed from the monitor 
12. As is shown in FIG. 2, the attaching apparatus 32 is attached to the 
housing 16 and includes a pair of jaws 34 and 36 are relatively movable 
and which may be displaced from a first position, as shown, by applying a 
force to a thumb depression 38 to move the jaw 36 downwardly as 
illustrated by the arrow 40 to a second position. When the opposed jaws 
are in the first position the apparatus may be affixed to the periphery of 
the monitor 12 and when they are in the second position the apparatus may 
be in the act of being removed from or affixed to the monitor. The jaw 36 
is spring loaded to continuously provide pressure in a direction opposite 
to the arrow 40. With the jaw 36 moved downwardly to thus provide 
appropriate space between the jaws 34 and 36, the jaws are positioned so 
as to be on opposite sides of the cover holding the monitor 12 of the 
computer 10. The downward force 40 is removed from the thumb depression 38 
thus allowing the spring to move the jaw 36 toward the jaw 34 thereby 
clamping the housing 16 to the edge 24 of the monitor 12. Elastomeric 
material in the form of a pair of pads 42 and 46 are provided on the jaw 
36 and an additional pad 48 of elastomeric material is provided along the 
length of the jaw 34 to preclude the jaws from scaring or disfiguring the 
edge 24 of the monitor 12. 
As will be more fully described hereinbelow, there is also provided an 
additional clamp 50 which may be moved downwardly by grasping a pair of 
serrated finger depressions one of which is shown at 52 with an additional 
one on the opposite side from that shown in FIG. 2. The additional 
clamping member 50 can then be moved downwardly to allow the positioning 
of an upper gripping member 54 along an upper edge 56 of the enclosure 
housing 16. Upon release the additional clamping means 50 will move 
upwardly to engage the lower edge 60. The upward and lower edges are 
separated by an inner edge 62 against which the clamping means rests. It 
is in this manner that the clamping means 32 is removably attached to the 
audio producing apparatus housing 16. 
By reference now more particularly to FIG. 3, the clamping apparatus 32 is 
shown in exploded view. As is therein shown, there is provided a base 
member 66 having first and second substantially planar surfaces 68 and 70. 
The base member 66 also has extending therefrom the jaw 34 and the 
gripping member 54 as above described. As can be seen the jaw 34 extends 
outwardly substantially perpendicular from the first planar surface 68 and 
may be formed as an integral part of the base member 66. The gripping 
member 54 extends outwardly substantially perpendicular from the second 
planar surface 70 and may be formed as an integral part of the base member 
66. Preferably the base member 66, jaw 34 and gripping member 54 are 
formed from a unitary molded plastic member with jaw 34 and gripping 
member 56 extending across one end to form a T appearing member as is more 
evident in FIG. 4. The pad 48 is affixed to the inter surface of the jaw 
34 as above described. The lower jaw 36 has the pads 42 and 46 affixed 
thereto and is formed as an integral part of a first slide member 72 which 
is slidably engaged upon the planar surface 68 of the base 66. The slide 
72 is maintained in position and permitted to slide by the fingers 74 
which engage the slots 76 formed in the base 68. A spring 78 is secured on 
an appropriate post 86 formed on the surface 68 of the base member 66 to 
constantly urge the slide 72 in a direction such that the jaws 34 and 36 
will tend to close. 
There is also provided the second clamp means as above described in the 
form of a second slide member 80 which is slidably secured to opposite 
edge surfaces of the base 66 by appropriate fingers 82 which engage 
recessed areas in the edge surfaces of the base 66. A second spring 84 is 
secured in place upon an appropriate post 102 formed on the surface 70 of 
the base 66 and held between the slide 80 and the surface 70 of the base 
66. The slide 80 also defines a plurality of teeth 88 which function to 
engage a serrated grove 94 (that will be more fully described herein 
below) formed in the housing 16. The spring 84 constantly urges the teeth 
88 toward the clamping member 54 so that when the clamping means 32 is 
secured to the housing 16, the teeth 88 will engage the serrations 94. 
The clamping means 32 is shown in assembled fashion in FIGS. 4 and 5 to 
which reference is hereby made. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the 
jaws 34 and 36 with the slidable member 72 in place upon the first planar 
surface 68 of the base 66. The slidable member 80 is shown in place on the 
opposite planar surface 70 of the base member 66. It should be recognized 
that the base member 66 forms not only the two oppositely facing planar 
surfaces 68 and 70 which receive the two slidable members 80 and 72 
respectively but also forms the jaw 34 and the gripping surface 54 
integrally therewith. Also more clearly shown is the thumb depression 38 
which enables the user to move the slide member 72 from its first position 
as shown to the right as viewed in FIG. 4. 
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 5 which is a top view of the 
structure shown in FIG. 4, the finger depressions 52 and 90 on the 
slidable member 80 are more clearly shown. In addition, the positioning of 
the spring 78 is shown in phantom between the slidable member 72 and the 
base 66. 
FIG. 6 illustrates more in detail the slidable member 80 and illustrates 
the teeth 88 formed thereon along with the finger depressions 90 and 52. 
Also more clearly illustrated are the posts 92 formed within the cavity 93 
upon which the ends of spring 84 rest. 
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 8 an 9, there is illustrated the 
two slides 72 and 80 in partial cross-section to further illustrate the 
manner in which they are constructed and operate. 
As is shown in FIG. 8, the slide 72 defines an internal cavity 100 which 
receives the spring 78. The fingers 74 are disposed within slots as shown 
at 76 in FIG. 3 as above described. The surface 68 of the base member 66 
closes the cavity 100 so as to trap the spring 78 therein and to provide 
the sliding operation of the slide 72 with respect to the base member 66 
as above described. 
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 9, the structure for the second 
slide 80 is also illustrated. As is therein shown, a cavity 104 is formed 
within the slide 80. The post 86 formed on the base 66 and which receives 
the spring 84 as above described is illustrated. The surface 70 of the 
base member 66 closes the cavity 104 to capture the spring 84 therein and 
to thus provide the sliding operation of the slide 80 with respect to the 
base member 66 as above described. 
By reference now more particularly to FIG. 7, the enclosure housing 58 is 
shown with the speaker screen 92 over the front thereof As is shown in the 
partial sectional area there is a corrugated ridge 94 which extends along 
a substantial portion of the surface 60 of the inner edge 62 of the 
speaker enclosure housing. It will be recognized that the gripping member 
54 engages the upper edge 56 while the teeth 88 engage the serration 94. 
When the clamping apparatus 32 is in position upon the housing 16, the 
speaker housing 16 may be moved to any position desired by the user as 
illustrated by the arrow 28 in FIG. 1. 
It should now become readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the 
clamping apparatus 32 may be affixed to the housing 16 by moving the slide 
80 downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 upon grasping the finger depressions 52 
and 90 and exerting a downward force. The gripping member 54 can then be 
placed upon the edge 56. Thereafter by releasing the pressure on the 
finger depressions 52 and 90 the spring 84 moves the teeth 88 into 
engagement with the serrations 94. Thereafter, by applying the appropriate 
downward force 40 to the thumb depression 38 on the slidable member 72, 
the jaws 34 and 36 can be caused to open to allow the audio producing 
apparatus to be affixed to the edge 22 of the monitor 12. Upon release of 
the pressure from the thumb depression 38 the jaws 34 and 36 will close as 
a result of the force of the spring 78 thus clamping the audio producing 
apparatus in the form of the speaker enclosure 16 to the outer periphery 
of the monitor 12. By simply reversing this process the speaker enclosure 
16 can be removed from the monitor 12 relatively easily. Obviously the 
descriptive material with regard to the audio producing apparatus 16 is 
directly applicable to the audio producing apparatus 14 and is effectively 
the mirror image thereof 
There has thus been disclosed an audio producing apparatus which may be 
utilized with a laptop/notebook-type of computer to either enhance the 
audio qualities and capabilities thereof or provide such audio 
capabilities in the event the laptop/notebook-type computer does not 
include speakers therein. Obviously, an audio card must be added to any 
such computer not having audio capability in order to utilize the 
capabilities of the speakers of the present invention. 
From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are 
a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present 
invention which comes within the province of those skilled in the art. 
However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the 
spirit of the invention are considered as within the scope thereof as 
limited solely by the claims appended hereto.