Abstract:
An acoustic frame for use in connection with a flat-screen television includes an acoustic matte, the acoustic matte being substantially transparent to sound waves and infra-red radiation, wherein the acoustic matte is arranged so as to surround a display screen on the flat-screen television, an interchangeable art frame coupled to, and overlapping, an outer periphery of the acoustic matte, a positioning apparatus coupled to a rear surface of the acoustic matte for positioning the acoustic frame in relation to the flat-screen television, and apparatus for attaching the acoustic frame to the flat-screen television disposed on the rear surface of the acoustic matte.

Description:
[0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 60/513,649, filed Oct. 23, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to enhancement of display devices, and more particularly to enhancing the periphery of flat screen televisions and monitors through the use of an acoustic frame.  
         [0004]     2. Prior Art  
         [0005]     The development and proliferation of flat screen televisions and computer monitors has led to their being hung on walls, hung on ceilings, placed on desks, and placed in other ways in which framed pictures and art are placed. In all of these varying ways of placement, the display device lacks any means for attaching devices such as speakers, antennas, infrared ports, and other items in such a way that they are hidden from view.  
         [0006]     While prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,096 discloses a decorative border for a display device and U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,172 discloses a border for a display device where the border contains chambers for storage and other functions, neither of these prior art devices incorporate into a single border the ability to attach conventional art frames to the border or the ability to be acoustically transparent nor transparent to light and particularly infrared light used by remote controls. Nordo either of these devices provide for attaching speakers, antennas, or infrared ports to, or within, the acoustic frame.  
         [0007]     In light of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, a frame is needed for display devices where the frame can accommodate practically any combination of aesthetic and functional features.  
         [0008]     The acoustic frame disclosed herein provides a number of means by which these items may be attached to the acoustic frame and a number of other means by which the acoustic frame itself may be attached to the display device. A conventional art frame may also be attached to the periphery of the acoustic frame.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     An acoustic frame for use in connection with a flat-screen television includes an acoustic matte, the acoustic matte being substantially transparent to sound waves and infra-red radiation, wherein the acoustic matte is arranged so as to surround a display screen on the flat-screen television, an interchangeable art frame coupled to, and overlapping, an outer periphery of the acoustic matte, a positioning apparatus coupled to a rear surface of the acoustic matte for positioning the acoustic frame in relation to the flat-screen television, and apparatus for attaching the acoustic frame to the flat-screen television disposed on the rear surface of the acoustic matte.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the acoustic frame attached to a display device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the acoustic frame attached to a display device, taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates different arrangements for connecting the acoustic matte to the interchangeable art frame.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the acoustic frame showing a door in the acoustic matte to allow access to the display device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the acoustic frame attached to a display device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     An acoustic frame for flat-screen display devices will be described. In the following description, specific components and circuitry are described in detail to give a more thorough understanding of the present invention. In other instances, well-known components are not described in detail so as to not obscure the present invention unnecessarily.  
         [0016]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the acoustic frame  10  is shown. In  FIG. 1 , the acoustic frame is illustrated as being attached to a display device  100 . The major components of the preferred embodiment of the acoustic frame  10  consist of an acoustic matte  12  attached to an interchangeable art frame  14 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display device is a flat-screen television, such as plasma or LCD television. The acoustic frame  10  includes a suitable means for attaching to the display device  100 . The attachment means is not shown in  FIG. 1 , and is described below. It is to be understood that the display device is not part of the invention itself. The acoustic frame  10  is used in conjunction with the display device. Moreover, the display device is not limited to only a flat-screen television. The acoustic frame  10  can be used to enhance the use of a wide range of similar devices, such as computer monitors, rear screen projection televisions, or the like. As used in this description, the term “display device” will be understood to include virtually any type of device that is used to display images on a screen, including flat screen televisions, CRT televisions, computer monitors, rear screen projection televisions, or the like.  
         [0017]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the acoustic matte  12  is positioned along the inner border  15  of the art frame  14 . The acoustic matte  12  and the art frame  14  are fixed together using any suitable means known in the art. However, the two components may be separated. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the acoustic matte  12  is shown as being substantially flush with the front surface of the display device  100 . In the preferred embodiment, a number of clips  28  are used to hold the acoustic frame  10  on the display device  100 . In addition, a ridge or stop  30  is provided to position and align the acoustic frame  10  on the display device. The clips  28  and stop  30  work together to securely hold the acoustic frame  10  to the display device  100  in the desired manner. Although the acoustic matte  12  is shown being flush with the screen  108  in  FIG. 2 , it will be apparent to the art that an exact registration is not required, and that there may be a small gap between the two, without affecting the operation of the invention.  
         [0018]     The clips  28  holds the acoustic matte  12  in such a manner that the matte is substantially parallel to the front of the display device  100 , with the opening framed by the acoustic matte substantially matching the display device screen  108 . In the preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprises clasps, aligned by positioning means, a ridge on the acoustic matte. The interchangeable art frame  14  is attached flush to the acoustic matte  12  in any of a variety of orientations.  FIG. 2  shows the interchangeable art frame  14  in front of the acoustic matte  12 . However, the acoustic matte  12  may be attached to the art frame  14  in other ways. Some of these arrangements are illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3 ( a ) shows the interchangeable art frame  14  in front and along the side of the acoustic matte  12 .  FIG. 3 ( b ) shows the interchangeable art frame  14  along the side of acoustic matte  12 .  FIG. 3 ( c ) shows the interchangeable art frame  14  surrounding the outer edge of acoustic matte  12 .  
         [0019]     The acoustic matte  12  is typically made of a material that allows it to be substantially transparent to sound waves and infrared radiation. “Substantially transparent” to sound waves in the context of the present invention means that for a listener there is no discernable difference listening to the display device with or without the acoustic matte  12  in place. With respect to infrared radiation, “substantially transparent” in the context of the present invention means that the acoustic matte does not impede the functioning of the infrared transmitter on the remote control unit of the display device. Use of such materials and/or a manner of construction in the preferred embodiment allows the display device speakers to be heard when mounted behind the acoustic matte and further allows remote controls to communicate with the display device&#39;s infrared ports mounted behind or inside the acoustic matte. The acoustic matte may have the appearance of a matte such as those used within the perimeter of a conventional art frame. The acoustic matte  12  can be any color, design, or appearance that suits the desires of the user.  
         [0020]     The interchangeable art frame  14  may be comprised of one or more pieces and have the appearance of a conventional art frame. In the preferred embodiment, the art frame  14  has the appearance of a wood frame. The art frame  14  may be manufactured from wood or any other suitable material. Of course, the art frame is not limited only the appearance of the preferred embodiment. Other styles and materials may be used with equal effectiveness. The interchangeable art frame  14  can be any color, design, or appearance that suits the desires of the user.  
         [0021]     In the preferred embodiment, the acoustic frame  10  is rectangular in shape. The aspect ratio for the preferred embodiment matches the aspect ratio of the screen  108  of the display device  100  for which it is used. However, the acoustic frame may be any size, as it is not limited to a particular size of display device. The standard aspect ratios for televisions are 16:9 and 4:3. The present invention can be used with both aspect ratios, as well as other, non-standard, sizes.  
         [0022]     In the preferred embodiment, the acoustic frame  10  surrounds the viewable area of display device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the acoustic frame may overlap a portion of the display device&#39;s viewable area. Alternatively, the area framed by the acoustic frame may be larger than the viewable area of the display device, such that a portion of the display device itself remains visible. The matte may be designed to overlap some portion of the displayed image for a cleaner appearance. This slightly increases the amount of overscanned video up to 10-20% of NTSC without breaking rules of NTSC safe action (10%) and safe title (20%) areas.  
         [0023]     Display devices typically have audio speakers. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display device is a television with its speakers mounted in the front along the sides, as is typical for televisions. In the preferred embodiment, the acoustic matte  12  hides the display device&#39;s speaker elements. However, the acoustic matte is suitable to be used with display devices that use side-mounted speakers or separate speakers.  
         [0024]     Display devices such as televisions typically have remote controls, such as infrared controls that communicate with the display device&#39;s infrared detector. In the preferred embodiment, the acoustic matte  12  hides the display device&#39;s infrared detector, as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the acoustic matte is suitable to be used with display devices that do not have infrared detectors, including those that employ other means of control such as manual, hard-wired, acoustic, radio control, or any other light frequency.  
         [0025]     The acoustic frame  10  can be attached to the display device  100  in a variety of different ways, not limited to any single method or structure. For example, attachment means includes screws, latches, clasps, glue, mushroom posts, magnets, with equal effectiveness. For a dedicated fit, the display device includes a lip, ridge, groove, or channel or the like that acts as a line of attachment or positioning for the acoustic frame or its pieces, as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view, without the display device pictured, of the preferred embodiment of the acoustic frame  10  with the acoustic matte  12  attached to the interchangeable art frame  14 , which surrounds the visible area of the acoustic matte.  FIG. 4  also shows a door  17  in the acoustic matte that allows access to components of the display device  100 .  FIG. 2  shows means  26  for attaching components for the display devices, such as antennas, speakers, or infrared detectors.  
         [0027]     In the first preferred embodiment, the acoustic matte  12  is made of plastic covered with fabric. Other alternative embodiments include acoustic mattes made of wood, metal, or some other suitable lightweight material, covered in front with cloth, paper, or some other suitable material that is substantially transparent for sound waves and infrared radiation. While the substantially transparent material allows remote control through infrared radiation in the preferred embodiment, other means of control such as manual, hard-wired, acoustic, radio control, or any other light frequency are also possible.  
         [0028]     The interchangeable art frame  14  is attached to the perimeter of the acoustic matte  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In this configuration, the interchangeable art frame can be attached in such a way so as to completely hide the acoustic matte or in such a way so as to completely or partially allow the acoustic matte to be seen within the inside perimeter of the conventional frame.  FIG. 4  shows the preferred embodiment with the interchangeable front art frame  14  attached to and partially covering the acoustic matte  12 .  
         [0029]     In an alternative embodiment, the acoustic matte  12  is attached to the display device  100  without also being attached to the interchangeable art frame. Aesthetically the acoustic matte can function without the interchangeable art frame  14 .  
         [0030]     The acoustic matte  12  can be attached to the interchangeable art frame  14  in a variety of different ways not limited to any single method or structure. For example, attachment means include screws, latches, clasps, glue, mushroom posts, or magnets, with equal effectiveness. As shown in FIGS.  3 ( a ) and  3 ( c ), for a dedicated fit the interchangeable art frame includes a lip, ridge, groove, or channel or the like that acts as a line of attachment or positioning for the acoustic matte or its pieces.  
         [0031]     In the preferred embodiment, the acoustic frame  10  is comprised of one piece that is attached to the periphery of the display device  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the acoustic frame  10  is comprised of a plurality of primary pieces that are attached to the periphery of the display device  100 . When the acoustic frame  10  comprises more than one primary piece, it can be made sturdier and more stable after being attached to the display device  100  by connecting the acoustic frame pieces to one another.  FIG. 5  shows the use of the alternative embodiment that has on the back surface latches  16 , hooks, or other support means. Any such primary piece or pieces may have a door  17  or swing-away panel built into the primary piece so as to allow ready access to the area or components behind the acoustic frame.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows the preferred embodiment of the acoustic frame with carrying handles  18 . Handles may be attached to the acoustic frame so that the combined assembly can be more easily carried or moved.  FIG. 5  also shows the preferred embodiment of the acoustic frame with attachment rings  20  for security, mounting, and tip-over safety. After the acoustic frame  10  is securely attached to the display device  100 , the acoustic frame can act as a point of attachment by rings, hooks, latches, screws, clasps, glue, mushroom posts, magnetism, or any attachment means, for securing the combined assembly to a wall, ceiling, desk, or other object.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , openings  22  in the back of the acoustic frame  10  for user connectors are located very near to the display device  100  inputs in order to improve the video quality. The acoustic frame  10  also provides openings  24  for optional modules that connect through external cables, such as DVD players.  
         [0034]     The acoustic frame can also be made so that it supports interchangeable front bezels. This allows users to customize and personalize the appearance of the acoustic frame without changing the frame itself. A matte such as those used within the perimeter of a conventional art frame may be placed over the acoustic matte  12  if so desired by the user. Additionally, non-traditional elements, e.g., glass, may also be placed over the acoustic matte  12 . In these configurations, the speakers  102  and infrared port  104  may function better if they are removed from behind the acoustic matte. It is also possible to use the acoustic frame  10  in any configuration described herein without attaching any components to it such as speakers or an infrared port. The acoustic frame  10  can bear any color, design, or appearance that suits the desires of the user.  
         [0035]     Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred versions, other versions are possible. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention is not defined only by the preceding description, but is limited only by the following claims.