Abstract:
A telescoping box includes a lid. The upper section of the box includes lids which are frictionally engagable therewith. The lids include speaker assemblies as part of each lid. The lids are removable and include connection points for audio signal sources such as MP3 players.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/992,139, filed Dec. 4, 2007; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a portable box for carrying items. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable box for carrying items such as foldable chairs, which is adjustable in size and includes integrated speakers connectable to sources of audio content such as MP3 players, for allowing playing of such audio content in recreational environments. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Folding chairs have become extremely popular for use in outdoor activities in a number of different forms. More specifically, at weekend family sporting events many families can be seen carrying folding chairs to and from the events, and using the chairs for seating during the events on the sidelines. Similarly, such chairs are also used by campers, in picnic environments and virtually any other outdoor activity in which a user may wish to have a seating surface available. 
         [0006]    Current folding chairs designs generally involve chairs which have a foldable frame and multiple fabric or canvas panels making up back, arm and seat surfaces thereof. Such chairs are typically easily transported in sacks which are in many cases made up of a bag body of sufficient volume to have the chair in folded condition inserted therein, as well as other accessories such as an attachable umbrella which attaches to a frame member of the chair, for example, to provide shade on sunny days. Further, such bags or sacks typically also include an attached strap to facilitate carrying of the folding chair on a shoulder. 
         [0007]    As a result of an increase in outdoor activities, use of devices such as MP3 players have become quite popular, for example, with outdoor enthusiasts who exercise through jogging, and other like activities. One advantage of such MP3 devices is that they are light and easily carried without hindering activities such as jogging, biking and other physical activities. However, such MP3 devices can generally be used in an outdoor environment by only one person, and the audio content of the devices such as music, cannot be shared with others in a social setting where a multitude of people would be gathered in a relaxed environment using the aforementioned folding chairs, such as in camping. 
         [0008]    One prior art attempt to remedy this problem provides a folding chair that comes with a portable stereo system. Such a system offers people a different approach on how a folding chair can be utilized providing entertainment enjoyment in one device in order to reduce traveling difficulties. However, such a device suffers from the disadvantage that as a result of containing a complete portable stereo system, the chair is heavy and difficult to carry and requires a multitude of complex components, such as a mini boom box, battery pack, audio frequency receiver, audio frequency wire and speakers. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device and system allowing comfortable transport of items such as folding chairs for use in outdoor environments which also allows sharing of content on MP3 players, such as music. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a portable box for carrying items. More specifically, the portable box in accordance with the invention is adapted in particular, for carrying items such as folding chairs. Aspects of the invention may include a container having at least one open end and a lid securable to close the open end. A speaker is made part of the lid. A connection is provided on the lid to connect an external source of audio content to the speaker. 
         [0011]    In a more specific embodiment, a first sleeve and a second sleeve each define a conduit open at each end. The first and second sleeves are frictionally slidably engaged to define a variable length conduit, having open ends at either end thereof. A first lid securing member is secured at a first open end and a second lid securing member secured at a second open end. The first and second lid securing members have an opening for receiving respective first and second lids therein. The first and second lids and lid receiving members are configured for rotatably frictionally engaging the lids for closing and opening thereof. At least one speaker is secured as part of at least one of the first and second lids. A source of power is provided for the speaker for driving the speaker. A connection, i.e., jack input, is provided and is connected to the speaker for connecting an audio content source to the speaker(s), such as a MP3 player. 
         [0012]    In a preferred aspect, the speaker is a flat panel speaker having no cone and generally consisting of a membrane and a distributed mode actuator (DMA) electronic component such as is available commercially from NXT. An exemplary speaker arrangement includes two speakers, one at each end of the box. A power source such as a solar panel with super capacitors and combination of batteries, or batteries alone, is used to power the electronic component for the speaker. 
         [0013]    In a yet still further variant of the invention, the first and second sleeves are made of cellulosic material which has been made water resistant including, through decorative laminations on the outer surfaces thereof. The rigid caps and lid securing members are made of plastic material, optionally, polypropylene, foamed plastic or cellular plastic. 
         [0014]    In a specific configuration, the first and second lid securing members have cutout regions and tabs adjacent to cutout regions. The first and second lids also have tabs for being received in the cutout regions and retained on the first and second lid securing members through rotation thereof to have the tabs received under the securing member tabs in a recess defined by the tabs of the lid securing member. 
         [0015]    These and other advantages and features that characterize the invention are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are described exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the box in a collapsed configuration with one sleeve fully received within a second sleeve in accordance with one aspect of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the box in a partially extended form; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the box in a fully extended form; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the box in accordance with the invention, with a lid secured thereon, and including a surface for supporting items such as cups; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a lid holding member and a lid therefor, shown in disassembled condition; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a view as in  FIG. 5  but showing the lid received within the lid receiving member, but in a loose fitting condition; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a view as in  FIG. 6  but showing the lid partially engaged; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a view as in  FIG. 6  showing the lid in a fully engaged condition; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  shows a lid with a support member for use as a speaker; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows in detail a lid extension having a lid extension recess or cutout for secure engagement in a closed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a lid and speaker arrangement in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a lid and speaker arrangement in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The device in accordance with the invention is a telescoping box having at least one lid and preferably two removable lids, one at each end. The outer end sections of the box include two respective plastic end support rings or members which serve as rigid caps to each outer end of the sleeves. The lower section sleeve of the box is slightly larger than the upper section. The pieces slide together, and are held by friction, so that the box can be maintained stable at any length of extension. At either end of the assembled box, a lid assembly is attached to the end support ring with a lid that rotates 45 degrees to open or close the box. The lid can be rotated in either direction for opening or closing. In one configuration the box is configured as a container for a foldable chair and includes a loudspeaker in each lid compatible for connection with an MP3 player or like device. 
         [0029]    The loudspeaker is optionally powered by batteries, solar cells and/or super capacitors, and is preferably made as a coneless type of system using a substrate to generate sound. This can be done by attaching a distributed mode actuator (DMA) electronic component on a substrate to cause the substrate to generate sound. Such components are commercially available from NXT as described on its webpage at www.nxtsound.com at “Special Applications.” More, specifically, such a component includes a rugged transducer developed to automotive test standards which can be integrated on a number of different types of substrates, including but not limited to substrates like cardboard or plastic. 
         [0030]    In an exemplary embodiment, the box telescopes so that it can be changed in size and allows advantages in loading and storage, as well as providing the ability to size the box downward to fit the item inside. An additional advantage is that items therein can be exposed by collapsing the box when loading and unloading, making such actions easier to accomplish. Functionally, the lid has no threads so it cannot be over tightened. It can be turned in either direction to open or close, and tactile feedback is provided when the lid snaps closed as will become more evident from the following detailed discussion. As already noted the lid also contains a loudspeaker and by having lids at either end, items that would normally be the bottom of the box can be easily removed by opening the lid at the bottom. 
         [0031]    While the principles of this invention do not limit its form or application, one embodiment capitalizes on the structure available through the system exemplified in  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIG. 1  generally shows a box  11  including an outer sleeve  13  and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  an inner sleeve  15  which is sized slightly smaller than the outer sleeve  13 . End assemblies  17  are made up of lid securing members  21  and lids  23  which sit up on top of rigid end caps  19  which surround the cardboard ends of the box sleeves  13  and  15 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a partial view in perspective of an assembled box  11  in accordance with the invention. The rigid caps  19  at the end of the sleeves have supported thereon the end cap assemblies  17  which include the securing members  21  and lid  23 . The lid  23  can be configured to include an upper surface  25 , as shown, of a form to support items such as cup  27 . The box  11  can also include as part of the rigid cap assembly  17 , or of the end caps  19 , a strap  31  connectable through conventional clips  29  for ease of carrying the box  11 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a lid securing member  21  with a lid  23  separated therefrom of the type which also includes the support surface  25  previously described. Recesses  33  are provided on the lid holder  21  which also include lid securing member tab  35  with a space defined below the securing member tab  35 . The lid  23  includes lid tabs  37 , which also include cutout region  39  to provide secure engagement as will be further described herein. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates the lid  23  received within the lid securing member  21  including the lid tab  37  sitting on the lid holder  21  in the recesses  33  thereof. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates a rotation of the lid  23  such that the lid tab  37  begins to be received within a recess defined by securing member tab  35 . As may be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the rotation can proceed in either a leftward or rightward direction. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates a fully assembled lid securing member  21  with a lid  23 , as assembly  17 . In order to provide secure tactile feel, there is a projection located within a wall of the recesses in which the tabs  37  are received which engages with cutout region  39 . The projection can be made by appropriate molding of the lid holder  21  or by a cutout with insertion of a section of an elastomeric material such as a portion of an o-ring. In this form the securing engagement point is felt by the user closing the lid of the box. 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  illustrates a lid assembly in accordance with the invention including a stand which may pivot away from the lid top at a pivot point  43  for use as a speaker. 
         [0038]      FIG. 10  illustrates in greater detail the lid recess or cutout  39  on the lid projection  37 . 
         [0039]    In order to describe exemplary speaker assemblies as part of the lids in accordance with the invention reference is made to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . More specifically,  FIG. 11  illustrates in exploded form one exemplary embodiment of the invention including a speaker back  51  which is shaped to include the support surface  25 . The speaker back is received in a speaker enclosure  53  making up part of the lid  23  which in turn includes a switch and connection port  57  for connection through conventional means to an MP3 player or like devices to provide signals to a speaker made of part of the assembly making up the lid  23 . A flat panel speaker module  55  is received within a recess in speaker enclosure  53  and is conventional in nature such as is available commercially from NXT as a distributed mode actuator (DMA) electronic component which includes a rugged transducer, as previously discussed, for use in assembling the speaker thereof. The speaker module  55  in this embodiment includes an intergrated battery holder and is connectable in a conventional manner to a speaker substrate  59  assembled in cooperation with a grill  63 . The substrate can be a cardboard panel, plastic panel or other suitable material as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill. 
         [0040]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , super capacitors  65  are provided connectable in a conventional manner to the speaker module  55  of the type described previously, which may or may not include an intergrated battery holder as an optional feature thereof. In addition to the speaker substrate  59 , a thin flexible solar panel is connected in a conventional manner for charging the super capacitors  65 . In all other aspects, the embodiment of  FIG. 12  is similar to that of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0041]    In yet another exemplary modification, an air outlet can be place at the bottom of the narrower sleeve and the sleeves sized to be used an air pump directing air through the outlet as a result of expanding and collapsing sliding action. 
         [0042]    While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the Applicants to restrict, or any way limit, the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative components and methods, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants&#39; general inventive concept.