Abstract:
Embodiments of portable device accessories and related methods are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/127,660, filed on May 14, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/101,658, filed on Sep. 30, 2008, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to speaker systems, and relates, more particularly, to portable speaker apparatuses and related methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The portable audio market has changed dramatically in the past several years. Recent trends have focused on the improvement of overall sound quality of portable devices. Much of the improvement has occurred in the sources for sound generation. For example, portable CD audio players and MP3 audio players have garnered increasing shares of the portable market in comparison to more conventional cassette players and radio sources. While focus on such sources has helped the overall perceived sound quality, further improvements have been somewhat limited by portability constraints. 
         [0004]    Portable audio products find wide usage in society. These audio products are often employed for work and personal use, e.g., at the office or home, as well as during travel in the car, in a park, garage, or hotel room, or even in business presentations using a laptop computer. The required portability of these audio devices limits the overall size and weight of the system and hence the types and sizes of the speaker drivers and enclosures used. Some conventional portable audio products include self-contained units such as portable radios and boomboxes to address the portability needs whereas others employ headphones, built-in laptop computer speakers, and miniature amplified speakers to accommodate portability in sound producing means. 
         [0005]    Generally, it can be desirable from a practical use standpoint to not have to use headphones or ear buds thereby allowing the listening of content playing on the portable device and still hearing ambient sounds. Unfortunately, self-contained conventional portable audio products, such as the aforementioned portable radio and boomboxes, do not provide flexibility of use, tend to consume large amount of space proportional to their quality of output signal and typically have limited or no positional flexibility or adjustability. In other words, if a user desires to take her music with her and not limit her ambient hearing, she is likely limited to carrying a portable radio or boombox. Consequently, there is a trade-off between portability and usability. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a need exists in the art to develop portable and usable apparatuses and related methods that address such limitations of the current technology. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description of examples of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures in the drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory coupled to a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary operational system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory coupled to a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric close-up view illustrating speaker housing portions of a dual speaker arrangement, including portions of the flexible member mechanically coupled to the speakers, of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates multiple figure front and side views, including additional detail of a dual speaker arrangement, of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an amplifier device housing portion, including input/output audio cables and power cable, of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates multiple figure front and side views, including additional detail of an amplifier device housing portion, of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view, including additional detail, of an amplifier device housing portion of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram that illustrates functional portions of an amplifier device portion of the exemplary operational system of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and powered by a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and an internal AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier co-located with one of the speakers and coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier co-located with one of the speakers and in wireless communication with a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including multiple speakers and an external AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 9  including multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 10  including multiple speakers and powered by a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 11  including multiple speakers and an internal AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 12  including multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier co-located with one of the speakers and coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 14  including a plurality of flexible members in addition to multiple speakers and an external AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device. 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 15  including a plurality of flexible members in addition to multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 16  including a plurality of flexible members in addition to multiple speakers and powered by a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0029]      FIG. 22  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 17  including a plurality of flexible members in addition to multiple speakers and an internal AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0030]      FIG. 23  illustrates another embodiment of the portable device accessory of  FIG. 18  including a plurality of flexible members in addition to multiple speakers and a battery powered amplifier co-located with one of the speakers and coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein 
           [0031]      FIG. 24  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and an external AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0032]      FIG. 25  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and a battery powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0033]      FIG. 26  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and powered by a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0034]      FIG. 27  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and an internal AC powered amplifier coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0035]      FIG. 28  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and a battery powered amplifier co-located with the speaker and coupled to a mobile device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
           [0036]      FIG. 29  illustrates an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory including a single speaker and a battery powered amplifier co-located with the speaker and in wireless communication with a mobile media device, in accordance with the subject matter described herein. 
       
    
    
       [0037]    For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements. 
         [0038]    The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus. 
         [0039]    The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. 
         [0040]    The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. 
         [0041]    “Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include coupling involving any electrical signal, whether a power signal, a data signal, and/or other types or combinations of electrical signals. “Mechanical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include mechanical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    In one embodiment, a portable speaker assembly is provided. The portable speaker device can include: (a) a first flexible member having a first end and a second end, the first flexible member including a first flexible member cavity running from the first end of the first flexible member to the second end of the first flexible member; (b) a first speaker housing coupled to the first end of the first flexible member, the first speaker housing including a first speaker element; and (c) a first speaker input cable, the first speaker input cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first speaker input cable coupled to the first speaker element of the first speaker housing, the first speaker input cable of sufficient length to allow the speaker cable to couple with a mobile entertainment device. 
         [0043]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  100  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device.  FIG. 1  includes portable device accessory  110  and mobile entertainment device  120 . Portable device accessory  110  includes speaker assembly  130 , amplifier assembly  140  and power assembly  150 . Portable device accessory  110  is configured to receive an audio signal from mobile entertainment device  120  and provide an acoustic signal to a user and her environment. In some embodiments, portable device accessory  110  is implemented without amplifier assembly  140  and power assembly  150 . In such an embodiment, mobile entertainment device  120  can provide power to operate the speakers within speaker assembly  130 . In other embodiments, portable device accessory  110  is implemented without power assembly  150 , and amplifier assembly  140  includes a power source, such as, for example a battery power source within amplifier assembly  140 , an AC-DC power source within amplifier assembly  140 , and the like. Examples of such embodiments are described in  FIGS. 9-29 , below. 
         [0044]    Speaker assembly  130  is a flexible speaker assembly configured to receive an amplified audio signal, produce an acoustic signal based on the received amplified audio signal and propagate the acoustic signal into the surrounding environment. Speaker assembly  130  includes flexible member  131 , speaker cable  132 , left speaker  133 , right speaker  135  and cable management devices  136 . In some embodiments, cable management devices  136  is configured as any suitable cable management device, such as, for example a plastic clip allowing a user to secure an associated cable/cord to flexible member  131 . 
         [0045]    Flexible member  131  is a support member configured to support or position one or more objects, for example, by bending at multiple locations and at various angles along its length. Flexible member  131  includes a first end mechanically coupled to left speaker  133  and a second end mechanically coupled to right speaker  135 . In some embodiments, flexible member  131  is implemented as a flexible hose with a hollow core and further includes speaker cable  132  located within the hollow core and electrically coupled to left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  and providing electrical communication between the speakers. 
         [0046]    Flexible member  131  can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example, flexible metal tubing. Examples of flexible metal tubing include flexible gooseneck steel tubing and steel flex rod, semi-rigid polymer tubing, and the like. In some embodiments, flexible member  131  can be manufactured from flexible gooseneck steel tubing and steel flex rod available from VIMCO, Incorporated of Java City, N.Y. In other embodiments, the flexible member  131  can be implemented as a 6 millimeter (mm) diameter articulated member or gooseneck, for example, made of spring steel and steel wire, as available from Sheenway Technology Ltd. Located at Rm 1313, 13/F., Austin Tower, 22-26 Austin Ave, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon. HK, but could be manufactured from other materials, such as, a bendable aluminum rod, interlocking plastic segments, or even wire or string. 
         [0047]    Left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  are transducer assemblies configured to receive an amplified audio signal and produce an associated acoustic signal based on the received amplified audio signal. In some embodiments, left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  are transducer assemblies manufactured as electrical devices and include magnetostrictive material and winding, which receive and transform the amplified audio signals, in the form of electrical energy, into acoustic signals. Left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  are further detailed in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , below. 
         [0048]    Amplifier assembly  140  is an amplification device including an amplification circuit located within a housing. The amplification circuit can be configured to receive an audio signal from a source and produce an amplified audio signal, powerful enough to drive one or more speakers, based on the received audio signal. Amplifier assembly  140  includes amplifier housing  141 , amplifier switch  142 , female power jack  143 , speaker input cable  144  and source cable  145  including source connector  146  mechanically coupled to source cable  145 . Amplifier housing  141  is configured to contain an amplifier circuit (detailed in  FIG. 8 , below) as well as amplifier switch  142 , female power jack  143 , a source cord/cable connector (not shown) and a speaker cord/cable connector (also not shown). In some embodiments, amplifier assembly  140  is co-located as part of speaker assembly  130 . In such embodiments, amplifier assembly  140  may include some, none or all of the aforementioned elements. 
         [0049]    Amplifier switch  142  is configured to allow a user to turn amplifier assembly “on” or “off” thereby resulting in mobile audio entertainment system  100  and its component elements turning “on” or “off” as well. Female power jack  143  is configured to mechanically couple with a male jack portion of a power cord/cable and provides a conduit for a DC power signal. 
         [0050]    Speaker input cable  144  is a signal conduit that is configured to mechanically couple with the amplifier circuit portion of amplifier assembly  140  and right speaker  135  of speaker assembly  130 . Speaker input cable  144  is further configured to provide a conduit for an amplified audio signal to travel from the amplifier circuit portion of amplifier assembly  140  to right speaker  135  of speaker assembly  130 . In some embodiments, speaker input cable  144  additionally includes one or more male jacks allowing one or more ends of speaker input cable  144  to be disconnected from an associated female jack, such as for user convenience. 
         [0051]    Source cable  145  is a signal conduit that is configured to mechanically couple with the amplifier circuit portion of amplifier assembly  140  and includes source connector  146  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within mobile entertainment device  120 . Source cable  145  is further configured to provide a conduit for an audio signal to travel from the mobile entertainment device  120  to the amplifier circuit portion of amplifier assembly  140 . In some embodiments, source cable  145  additionally includes an additional male jack allowing the amplifier assembly end of source cable  145  to be disconnected from an associated female jack located at amplifier assembly  140 , such as for user convenience. 
         [0052]    Power assembly  150  is a power supply system including a transformer or switching circuit located within a housing, such as a wall adapter housing, that is configured to receive an AC power signal, from a power source, and produce a DC power signal based on the received AC power signal. Power assembly  150  includes power cable  151  having power connector  153  mechanically coupled to power cable  151 , and alternating current (AC) wall adapter  152 . AC-DC power supply systems are well know within the art and will not be discussed further. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  200  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown). Operational system  200  includes portable device accessory  210  that includes speaker assembly  130  and amplifier assembly  140  portions of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 2 , operational system  200  depicts how a user may position left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  by adjusting flexible member  131 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  illustrates a speaker system  300  for providing acoustic output from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown). Speaker system  300  includes speaker assembly  310  that includes portions of speaker assembly  130  of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 3 , speaker system  300  depicts an example of manufactured left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  as well as associated elements and includes over-molding of said elements. In some embodiments, left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  are enclosed within an associated tuned (e.g., vented) acoustical cavity. In other embodiments, left speaker  133  and right speaker  135  include are enclosed within an associated sealed acoustical cavity. 
         [0055]    In some embodiments, the associated sealed acoustical cavities are called speaker enclosures and can be manufactured from any suitable materials, such as, for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, as available from General Electric Corp of Fairfield, Conn. USA, but could be manufactured from other rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic materials such as polycarbonate plastic or polystyrene plastic. In other embodiments, speaker enclosure portions can be manufactured from other materials such as wood or metal. In still other embodiments, speaker enclosure portions may be mechanically coupled to the flexible member using an over-mold methodology. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  illustrates a speaker system  400  for providing acoustic output from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown). Speaker system  400  includes speaker assembly  410  that includes portions of speaker assembly  130  of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. In  FIG. 4 , multiple views of portions of speaker system  400  are illustrated. Speaker assembly  410  additionally includes acoustical port (speaker vent)  431 , cable/cord cavity  432  and speaker protective screen  434 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0057]    Acoustical port  431  is an acoustical vent (also referred to as a Hemholtz resonator) that provides tuning of an associated speaker cavity to provide an acoustically tuned response when combined with a tuned acoustical cavity, such as described in  FIG. 3  above. Cable/cord cavity  432  provides a sealed point of entry into the acoustical cavity of speaker  135  for speaker input cable  144 . Speaker protective screen  434 , also referred to as a speaker grille, provides protection of the loud speaker cone portion of an associated speaker. In some embodiments, speakers  133  and  135  can be implemented as any suitable compact, portable speaker, such as, for example the JL 1169 speaker available from Smart Glory Electronics (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd. Located at Building Four, Huaguan Industrial Zone, Zhangqi Road, Qiping Village, Guanlan Town, ShenZhen City, China (P.R.C). In other embodiments, speakers  133  and  135  can be implemented as one or more 2 Watt (W), 4 Ohm (Ω) speakers, for example, part number FG-25SB04-3 available from Fortune Grand Enterprise Co., LTD of Taoyuan City, Taiwan. R.O.C. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  illustrates an amplifier system  500  for receiving an audio signal from a mobile media device (not shown), producing an amplified audio signal powerful enough to drive one or more speakers based on the received audio signal, and providing the amplified audio signal to a speaker assembly (not shown). Amplifier system  500  includes amplifier assembly  510  that includes portions of amplifier assembly  140  of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 5 , amplifier system  500  depicts how a user may position amplifier assembly  510  and associated elements. 
         [0059]    Although amplifier system  500  is depicted as including an amplifier circuit within amplifier assembly  510  requiring a DC power signal input, amplifier system  500  may be implemented using different power sources. Examples of such power sources include an amplifier circuit incorporating a power supply system including a transformer or switching circuit located within amplifier assembly  510 , an amplifier circuit incorporating a power supply system powered by one or more batteries, and the like. Specific examples of amplifier assemblies incorporating exemplary power supply system are found in  FIGS. 9-29 , below. 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  illustrates an amplifier system  600  for receiving an audio signal from a mobile media device (not shown), producing an amplified audio signal powerful enough to drive one or more speakers based on the received audio signal, and providing the amplified audio signal to a speaker assembly (not shown). Amplifier system  600  includes amplifier assembly  610  that includes portions of amplifier assembly  140  of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. In  FIG. 6 , multiple views of portions of amplifier system  600  are illustrated. Amplifier assembly  610  additionally includes a front housing portion  641 , a rear housing portion  642  and cable/cord cavity  643 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0061]    In  FIG. 6 , front housing portion  641  is configured to mechanically couple to rear housing portion  642  and enclose the amplification circuit (described in  FIG. 8 , below). Front housing portion  641  is also configured to include amplifier switch  142  allowing a user to turn amplifier system  600 , as well as mobile audio entertainment system  100 , “on” and “off.” Cable/cord cavity  643  provides a sealed point of entry into the rear housing portion  642  of amplifier assembly  610  for speaker input cable  144 , source cable  145  and power cable  151 . In some embodiments, front housing portion  641  and rear housing portion  642  are manufactured as separate elements and thermally coupled after installation of the amplification circuit. 
         [0062]      FIG. 7  illustrates an amplifier system  700  for receiving an audio signal from a mobile media device (not shown), producing an amplified audio signal powerful enough to drive one or more speakers based on the received audio signal, and providing the amplified audio signal to a speaker assembly (not shown). Amplifier system  700  includes amplifier assembly  710  that includes portions of amplifier assembly  140  of portable device accessory  110  of mobile audio entertainment system  100  of  FIG. 1 , above. In  FIG. 7 , different views of the same amplifier housing, of amplifier system  700 , in multiple positions are provided. The multiple views provided illustrate amplifier housing  141  in different positions as the amplifier housing maneuvers to return to a first position, the set position. Amplifier assembly  710  additionally includes a steadying weight  741 ; a second amplifier housing position  750  includes a second steadying weight  751 ; and a third amplifier housing position  760  includes a third steadying weight  761 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0063]    In operation, steadying weight  741  forces amplifier housing  141  to rotate and rock back-and-forth passing through various positions until amplifier housing  141  obtains the desired position as defined by steadying weight  741  being located substantially near the surface upon which amplifier housing  141  is located. In an example, amplifier housing  141  can rotate/rock into a position as illustrated by second amplifier housing  750  and then rotate/tock into a position as illustrated by third amplifier housing  760  until amplifier housing  141  finally comes to rest with steadying weight  741  being located substantially near the surface upon which amplifier housing  141  is located. 
         [0064]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an amplifier system  800  of an exemplary system for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device. The amplifier system  800  in  FIG. 8  is a detailed view of a portion of amplifier assembly  140  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , amplifier system  800  includes amplifier circuit  810 , mobile entertainment device  120  and speaker assembly  130 . Speaker assembly  130  includes speakers  133  and  135 . Amplifier circuit  810  is an audio amplifier circuit that includes: audio amplifier chip  820 , optional sound field processing chip  825 , light emitting diode (LED)  830 , “on/off” switch  842 , female power jack  843  and source connector  845 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. 
         [0065]    In operation, amplifier circuit  810  receives a power signal via female power jack  843 , and receives an audio signal from source  120  via source connector  845 . LED  830  provides feedback to a user indicating amplifier system  800  is receiving power. In one embodiment, amplifier circuit  810  uses audio amplifier chip  820  in combination with optional sound field processing chip  825  to produce an amplified audio signal. In this embodiment, optional sound field processing chip  825  conditions the received audio signal to produce a spatial realistic sound effect from a stereo signal. Audio amplifier chip  820  receives the conditioned audio signal from optional sound field processing chip  825  and produces an amplified audio signal based on the received conditioned audio signal. In other embodiments (not shown), amplifier circuit  810  uses audio amplifier chip  820  to produce an amplified audio signal. In either of the embodiments, audio amplifier chip  820  passes an amplified audio signal to speaker assembly  130 . Optional sound field processing chip  825  can be implemented as any suitable field processing chip, such as, the LA2616V surround signal processing chip available from Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd. of Gunma, Japan. Audio amplifier chip  820  can be implemented as any suitable audio amplifier chip, such as, the LA4910T audio amplifier chip available from Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd. of Gunma, Japan. 
         [0066]    In  FIG. 8 , audio amplifier chip  820  includes an input and an output. In some embodiments and illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the input of amplifier chip  820  is electrically coupled to the output of optional sound field processing chip  825 , and the output of amplifier chip  820  is coupled to speakers  133  and  135  of speaker assembly  130 . In this embodiment, the input of audio amplifier chip  820  includes an AUD_RET pin, a LEFT_OUT pin and a RIGHT_OUT pin, and the output of audio amplifier chip  820  includes an L+ pin, L− pin, R+ pin and R− pin. Further to this embodiment, optional sound field processing chip  825  includes an input and an output. The input of optional sound field processing chip  825  includes an AUD_RET pin, a LEFT_IN pin and a RIGHT_IN pin, and the output of optional sound field processing chip  825  includes an AUD_RET pin, a LEFT_OUT pin and a RIGHT_OUT pin. 
         [0067]    In  FIG. 8 , AUD_RET pin, LEFT_OUT pin and RIGHT_OUT pin of the output of optional sound field processing chip  825  are electrically coupled to an associated AUD_RET pin, LEFT_OUT pin and RIGHT OUT pin located at the input of audio amplifier chip  820 . Further, L+ pin and L− pin of audio amplifier chip  820  are coupled to speaker  133  of speaker assembly  130 , and R+ pin and R− pin of audio amplifier chip  820  are coupled to speaker  135  of speaker assembly  130 . Both amplifier chip  820  and optional sound field processing chip  825  additionally include a power (PWR) pin. Each PWR pin is in electrical communication with power jack  843  via LED  830  and switch  842 . Switch  842  can be used by a user to turn amplifier circuit  810  “on/off.” Power jack  843  is in electrical communication with a power source (not shown), such as, for example a wall power outlet. 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 8 , source connector  845  includes an input and an output. The input of source connector  845  is operable to connect to mobile entertainment device  120 , such as, for example via a 3.5 mm male audio connector, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, and the like. In some embodiments, the output of source connector  845  includes AUD_RET pin, LEFT_IN pin and RIGHT_IN pin that are configured to electronically couple to an associated AUD_RET pin, LEFT_IN pin and RIGHT_IN pin located at the input of optional sound field processing chip  825 . In other embodiments and when optional sound field processing chip  825  is NOT a part of amplifier circuit  810 , AUD_RET pin, LEFT_IN pin and RIGHT_IN of source connector  845  configured to electronically couple to an associated AUD_RET pin, LEFT_OUT pin and RIGHT_OUT pin located at the input of audio amplifier chip  820 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 9  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  900  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  900  includes portable device accessory  910  that includes speaker assembly  130  and amplifier assembly  940 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 9 , amplifier assembly  940  is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0070]      FIG. 10  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1000  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 10  illustrates yet another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1000  includes portable device accessory  1010  that includes speaker assembly  130  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 10 , mobile audio entertainment system  1000  does not include an external amplifier circuit relying instead on the mobile media device (not shown) to provide an amplified audio signal to speaker assembly  130  via speaker input cable  1044 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 11  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1100  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 11  illustrates still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1100  includes portable device accessory  1110  that includes speaker assembly  130  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 11 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier and includes an AC power cord  1148  and an AC receptacle plug  1149 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1200  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 12  illustrates yet still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1200  includes portable device accessory  1210  that includes speaker assembly  1230  that includes amplifier assembly  1237  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 and 10  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 12 , amplifier assembly  1237  is co-located with speaker  135  of speaker assembly  1230  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0073]      FIG. 13  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1300  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is wirelessly coupled to a mobile media device.  FIG. 13  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Elements numbered as in  FIG. 1  function in a substantially similarly way. Mobile audio entertainment system  1300  includes portable device accessory  1310  and mobile entertainment device  1320  that is in wireless communication with portable device accessory  1310 . Portable device accessory  1310  includes speaker assembly  1330  that further includes wireless amplifier assembly  1337 . In  FIG. 13 , wireless amplifier assembly  1337  is co-located with speaker  135  of speaker assembly  1330  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier that includes a wireless receiver. 
         [0074]      FIG. 14  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1400  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 14  illustrates still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1400  includes portable device accessory  1410  that includes speaker assembly  1430  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 and 11  function in a substantially similarly way. Speaker assembly  1430  includes a second speaker cable  1438  that is also electrically coupled to speaker input cable  144  of amplifier assembly  1140 . In  FIG. 14 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier and includes AC power cord  1148  and a wall wart  1449 . Wall wart  1449  can be a receptacle plug in which the electrical prongs can be hidden in the plug by folding the prongs. In addition, wall wart  1449  can include an AC-DC converter, a surge protector, a voltage/current regulator, and/or a line conditioner. As an example, wall wart  1449  can regulate and condition the power passing from the AC power source into amplifier assembly  1140 . In some embodiments, wall wart  1449  can be similar to AC wall adaptor  152  ( FIG. 1 ), or vice versa. 
         [0075]      FIG. 15  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1500  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 15  illustrates yet another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1500  includes portable device accessory  1510  that includes speaker assembly  1430  and amplifier assembly  940 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  14  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 15 , amplifier assembly  940  is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0076]      FIG. 16  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1600  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 16  illustrates yet still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1600  includes portable device accessory  1610  that includes speaker assembly  1430  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  10  and  14  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 16 , mobile audio entertainment system  1600  does not include an external amplifier circuit relying instead on the mobile media device (not shown) to provide an amplified audio signal to speaker assembly  1430  via speaker input cable  1044 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 17  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1700  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 17  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1700  includes portable device accessory  1710  that includes speaker assembly  1430  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  14  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 17 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier. 
         [0078]      FIG. 18  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1800  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 18  illustrates yet another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 ,  12  and  14  function in a substantially similarly way. Mobile audio entertainment system  1800  includes portable device accessory  1810  that includes speaker assembly  1830  that further includes amplifier assembly  1237 , and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Speaker assembly  1830  also includes a second speaker cable  1438  that is also electrically coupled to speaker input cable  1044 . In  FIG. 18 , amplifier assembly  1237  is co-located with speaker  135  of speaker assembly  1830  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0079]      FIG. 19  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1900  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 19  illustrates still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  1900  includes portable device accessory  1910  that includes speaker assembly  1930  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  14  function in a substantially similarly way. Speaker assembly  1930  includes flexible member connector  1938  that is mechanically coupled to flexible member  131  as well as to a second flexible member  1936 . Second flexible member  1936  is mechanically coupled speaker  133  and flexible member  131  is additionally coupled to speaker  135 . Flexible member connector  1938  is coupled to speaker input cable  144  of amplifier assembly  1140  and provides speaker input cable  144  access to speaker cable  132  and second speaker cable  1438 . In  FIG. 19 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier and includes AC power cord  1148  and wall wart  1449 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 20  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2000  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 20  illustrates yet still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2000  includes portable device accessory  2010  that includes speaker assembly  1930  and amplifier assembly  940 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  9 ,  14  and  19  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 19 , amplifier assembly  940  is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0081]      FIG. 21  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2100  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 21  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2100  includes portable device accessory  2110  that includes speaker assembly  1930  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 ,  14  and  19  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 21 , mobile audio entertainment system  2100  does not include an external amplifier circuit relying instead on the mobile media device (not shown) to provide an amplified audio signal to speaker assembly  1930  via speaker input cable  1044 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 22  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2200  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 22  illustrates yet another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2200  includes portable device accessory  2210  that includes speaker assembly  1930  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  11 ,  14  and  19  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 22 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier. 
         [0083]      FIG. 23  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2300  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 23  illustrates still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 ,  12 ,  14  and  19  function in a substantially similarly way. Mobile audio entertainment system  2300  includes portable device accessory  2310  that includes speaker assembly  2330  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Speaker assembly  2330  additionally includes amplifier assembly  1237  and flexible member connector  1938  that is mechanically coupled to flexible member  131  as well as to second flexible member  1936 . Second flexible member  1936  is mechanically coupled to speaker  133  and flexible member  131  is additionally coupled to speaker  135 . Flexible member connector  1938  is coupled to speaker input cable  1044  of amplifier assembly  1140 . Speaker assembly  2330  additionally includes a second speaker cable  1438  that is also electrically coupled to speaker input cable  1044 . Flexible member connector  1938  provides speaker input cable  144  access to speaker cable  132  and second speaker cable  1438 . In  FIG. 23 , amplifier assembly  1237  is co-located with speaker  135  of speaker assembly  2330  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0084]      FIG. 24  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  1900  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 24  illustrates yet still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2400  includes portable device accessory  2410  that includes speaker assembly  2430  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 and 11  function in a substantially similarly way. Speaker assembly  2430  includes flexible member  2431  that is mechanically coupled speaker  2435 . In some embodiments, flexible member  2431  is implemented as a flexible hose with a hollow core and further includes speaker cable  2432  located within the hollow core and electrically coupled to speaker  2435 . Flexible member  2431  is coupled to speaker input cable  144  of amplifier assembly  1140  and provides speaker input cable  144  access to speaker cable  2432 . In  FIG. 24 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier and includes AC power cord  1148  and wall wart  1449 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 25  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2500  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 25  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2500  includes portable device accessory  2510  that includes speaker assembly  2430  and amplifier assembly  940 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  9 , and  24  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 25 , amplifier assembly  940  is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0086]      FIG. 26  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2600  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 26  illustrates yet another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2600  includes portable device accessory  2610  that includes speaker assembly  2430  and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 10 and 24  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 26 , mobile audio entertainment system  2600  does not include an external amplifier circuit relying instead on the mobile media device (not shown) to provide an amplified audio signal to speaker assembly  2430  via speaker input cable  1044 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 27  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2700  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 27  illustrates still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Mobile audio entertainment system  2700  includes portable device accessory  2710  that includes speaker assembly  2430  and amplifier assembly  1140 . Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  24  function in a substantially similarly way. In  FIG. 27 , amplifier assembly  1140  is implemented as an AC-DC power source amplifier. 
         [0088]      FIG. 28  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2800  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is coupled to a mobile media device (not shown).  FIG. 28  illustrates yet still another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 10 ,  12  and  24  function in a substantially similarly way. Mobile audio entertainment system  2800  includes portable device accessory  2810  that includes speaker assembly  2830  that additionally includes amplifier assembly  1237 , and speaker input cable  1044  that further includes source connector  1046  that is a male jack configured to mechanically couple to an associated female audio source connector within the mobile media device (not shown). In  FIG. 24 , amplifier assembly  1237  is co-located with speaker  2435  of speaker assembly  2830  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier. 
         [0089]      FIG. 29  illustrates a mobile audio entertainment system  2900  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory that is wirelessly coupled to a mobile media device.  FIG. 29  illustrates another embodiment of exemplary system  100  of  FIG. 1  for providing user controlled audio entertainment from a portable device accessory. Elements numbered as in  FIGS. 13 and 24  function in a substantially similarly way. Mobile audio entertainment system  2900  includes portable device accessory  2910  and mobile entertainment device  1320  that is in wireless communication with portable device accessory  2910 . Portable device accessory  2910  includes speaker assembly  2930  that further includes wireless amplifier assembly  1337 . In  FIG. 29 , wireless amplifier assembly  1327  is co-located with speaker  2435  of speaker assembly  2930  and is implemented as a battery powered amplifier that includes a wireless receiver. 
         [0090]      FIG. 30  illustrates an example of a method  3000  of manufacturing a portable device according to embodiments of the invention. Method  3000  of  FIG. 30  includes a process  3010  of providing a first flexible member. The first flexible member can comprise a first flexible member cavity that runs form a first end of the first flexible member to a second end of the first flexible member. The first flexible member can be the same as or similar to flexible member  131  ( FIGS. 1-4 , and  9 - 23 ) and flexible member  2431  ( FIGS. 24-29 ). 
         [0091]    Next, method  3000  of  FIG. 30  includes a process  3020  of providing a first speaker housing. The first speaker housing can comprise a first speaker element. The first speaker housing in combination with the first speaker element can be the same as or similar to speaker  133  ( FIGS. 1-4 ,  9 - 23 ), speaker  135  ( FIGS. 1-4 ,  9 - 23 ), or speaker  2435  ( FIGS. 24-29 ). It should be noted that the order of processes  3010  and  3020  can be reversed, or process  3010  and process  3020  can be performed at the same time. 
         [0092]    Method  3000  continues with a process  3030  of coupling the first speaker housing to the first end of the first flexible member. As an example,  FIGS. 1-4  and  9 - 23  show flexible member  131  coupled to speaker  135 , and  FIGS. 24-29  show flexible member  2431  coupled to speaker  2135 . 
         [0093]    Subsequently, method  3000  of  FIG. 30  continues with a process  3040  of providing a first speaker input cable. As an example, the first speaker input cable can be the same as or similar to speaker input cable  144  ( FIGS. 1-5 ,  9 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  17 ,  19 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  25 ,  27 ) or speaker input cable  1044  ( FIGS. 10 ,  12 ,  16 ,  18 ,  21 ,  23 ,  26 ,  28 ). 
         [0094]    Next, method  3000  proceeds with a process  3050  of coupling the first speaker input cable to the first speaker element. As an example  FIGS. 1-4 , and  9 - 28  show speaker input cable  144  or  1044  coupled to speaker  135  or speaker  2135 . It should be noted that the order of processes  3030 ,  3040 , and  3050  can be altered. For example, process  3040  can be performed before process  3030 . In addition, processes  3040  and  3050  can be performed before process  3030 . 
         [0095]    Although aspects of the subject matter described herein have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the subject matter described herein and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the subject matter described herein shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. To one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that the devices and method discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternative embodiments. 
         [0096]    All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the subject matter described herein and claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. 
         [0097]    Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.