Abstract:
A multi-channel wireless speaker system to be used with ceiling fans wherein the audio source generator can be one of many medias, not limited by the following: television, stereophonic, monophonic, video game, home theater, public address system or security system. The audio source generator sends an audio signal to the transmitter that in turn relays the audio signal to the wireless receiver located in the ceiling fan housing member. The ceiling fan housing member includes speakers, and a light source if desired. The speakers produce an omni directional sound due to their unique positioning within the ceiling fan. The wireless speaker system is powered by the existing voltage available to the ceiling fan, so no new wiring is required to install the speaker system. The speaker settings are manipulated via a remote control.

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/928,695, filed on Aug. 26, 2004 now abandoned, which was published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2005/0078837 on Apr. 14, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/510,745, filed Oct. 11, 2003. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     This invention relates to a wireless speaker system configured for use with ceiling fans. The invention facilitates the ability to listen or play centrally-located sound without the need for a stand or table. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, audio speaker systems are maintained within their own physical housing, although, in recent years the popularity of placing speakers within other household structures and electronics has risen. The purpose of such a combination is to combine the functions of cooling and audio systems in one decorative, space saving location. Wireless transmission, particularly at or around 900 MHz, has enabled audio wireless systems to be used in conjunction with many household fixtures. 
     Problems in the prior art include the need to have separate mountings for speakers and ceiling fans, to have additional wiring for speakers and ceiling fans, to have separate types of speakers for varying types of signal inputs, to have conspicuous visible speakers, to have the desired location for speakers on a ceiling already occupied by a ceiling fan, among others, all of which aim to be addressed by the present invention. Additional problems in the prior art, particularly in the combination of speakers with other items, include poor sound quality, poor sound distribution, overheating, difficulty in installation, incompatibility between the speaker and the item, and other problems known by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The wireless speaker system of the present invention is constructed in a manner wherein a ceiling fan housing member can support the speakers and receiver of said speaker system. The purpose of such a combination is to centralize audio entertainment within a common household fixture, in this case a ceiling fan. The integrated wireless speaker system/ceiling fan also provides a space-saving mechanism by removing the need for speaker stands or tables. The wireless speaker system for ceiling fans includes an audio source generator, a transmitter, a receiver, an amplifier, speakers and a ceiling fan. The speakers may be controlled via a remote control. Another additional feature of the invention is that the power provided to the bottom of the ceiling fan also powers the wireless speaker system so that no new wiring is required to install the speaker system into an existing ceiling fan. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generalized view of the wireless speaker system components and how they are connected. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal view of a first embodiment of the ceiling fan housing member and all of its components. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a first embodiment of the ceiling fan housing member. 
         FIG. 4A  is the first of a plan view series of a first embodiment of the ceiling fan housing member. 
         FIG. 4B  is the second of a plan view series of a first embodiment of the ceiling fan housing member. 
         FIG. 4C  is the third of a plan view series of a first embodiment of the ceiling fan housing member. 
         FIG. 5A  is a frontal view of one embodiment of the transmitter. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of one embodiment of the transmitter. 
         FIG. 5C  is a top view of one embodiment of the transmitter. 
         FIG. 6A  is a view of the base of one embodiment of the remote control. 
         FIG. 6B  is a view of the cover of one embodiment of the remote control 
         FIG. 6C  is a view of the keypad of one embodiment of the remote control 
         FIG. 7  is a below perspective view of a second fully assembled and mounted embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section view, along line A-A, of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the accompanying figures, the present invention relates to a wireless speaker system  1  used in combination with a ceiling fan. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the wireless speaker system  1  includes an audio source generator  3 , RCA (The Radio Corporation of America) connectors  5 , an audio input cord  99  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), a transmitter  7  mounted to a wall  11 , speakers  17 , a wireless receiver  9  and a remote control  107 . It should be noted that “RCA” is a registered trademark of General Electric Company. 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C, an embodiment of a transmitter  7  of the present invention is shown in detail. The transmitter  7  has a base  97 , a stand  101  with a support block  105  and a top surface  103 . The transmitter  7  has two inputs  93  for audio source generators  3  and a wall transformer power source  95 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , RCA connectors  5  connect the audio source generator  3  and the transmitter  7 . An audio input cord  99  also runs to the transmitter  7 . In one embodiment, the transmitter  7  is located within the wall  11 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C, an embodiment of a remote control  107  of the present invention is shown in detail. Preferably, the wireless speaker system  1  can be operated via a remote control  107 . The remote control  107  comprises a remote control top  109  with keypad openings  111  and a remote control bottom  113 . The remote control top  111  and the remote control bottom  113  are connected with fasteners  115  via the fastener apertures  117 , the fasteners being any suitable for connecting the remote control top  109  and the remote control bottom  113  known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The remote control top  109  has an outer surface  131  and an inner surface  133 . The remote control bottom  113  also has an outer surface  135  and an inner surface  137 . When the remote control top  109  and the remote control bottom  113  are attached via the fasteners  115 , the top surface of the remote control top  139  and the top surface of the remote control bottom  141  meet so that there is no opening between the two. A keypad  119  may be present between the remote control top  109  and the remote control bottom  111 . In a preferred embodiment, the remote control key pad  119  has five speaker control buttons: the speaker system on/off button  121 , the light source on/off button  123 , volume up  125 , volume down  127  and the receiver channel  129 . In an embodiment, the remote control  107  may able to turn the speaker system  1  on or off, the lights on or off, the volume of sound being produced from the speakers  17  up or down, change to channel of the receiver  9  to overcome any interference, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment the remote control  107  operates via infrared transmission. 
     A first embodiment of an element of the present invention is detailed in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 A,  4 B and  4 C, wherein the speaker  17  or speakers  17  of the present invention are directed downward from the ceiling, and away from the existing fan assembly  29 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the wireless receiver (also referred to as “RF Receiver”)  9  is located within the ceiling fan housing member  13 . The audio source generator  3  and the transmitter  7  are located distal from the wireless receiver  9 . The amplifier  15  and the speakers  17 , are also located in the ceiling fan housing member  13 . The speakers  17  are enclosed by a speaker housing member  19  that consists of an upper surface  21  and a lateral surface  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A,  4 B and  4 C, the speakers  17 , in this first embodiment, consist of a bass speaker  63 , a mid-range speaker  65  and a tweeter  67 . Each speaker  17  has a sound grid  89  located on the outer surface  90  of the respective speakers  17 . The speakers may be virtually any suitable shape and size, the range of which is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and may be dependent on the size of the ceiling fan housing member  13 , the speaker housing member  19 , or both. In a preferred embodiment, the speakers  17  are substantially circular and are about nine inches in diameter. In one embodiment, the speakers  17  range from between 2-32 ohms. In a preferred embodiment, the speakers  17  may range from 2-16 ohms. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the upper portion of the ceiling fan housing member  13 , the globe  27 , attaches directly to the existing fan assembly  29  through an aperture  75  in the globe  27 . Two supporting rings, an inner ring  77  and an outer ring  79  reinforce the aperture  75 . The globe  27  includes a bottom rim  31  and an outer surface  33 . The connection  39  of the fan housing member  13  to the existing fan assembly  29  is shown in dotted lines on  FIG. 2 . The existing fan assembly  29  also contains a fan assembly motor  41 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4C , the bottom rim  31  of the globe  27  has an interior rim  71  and an exterior rim  73 . The globe  27  also has an upper ring  81  that connects to the existing fan assembly  29 . The upper ring  81  has an interior surface  83  and an outer surface  85 . Spokes  87  are attached to the interior surface  83  of the upper ring  81  to provide support to the globe  27 . Also housed within the globe  27  is the drive shaft  43 . A drive shaft chamber  45  surrounds the drive shaft  43 . Along the bottom rim  31  of the globe are fasteners  35  that connect the globe  27  to the lighting source  25  and the lens  37 . The fasteners  35  connect the components by fastener openings  69 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the lower portion of the ceiling fan housing member  13 , the lens  37 , contains the speakers  17 , wireless receiver  9  and amplifier  15  within an enclosed space  47 . The lens  37  is connected to the globe  27  via a retaining nut  49 . The speakers  17  are connected to the lighting source  25  via screws  51  and the receiver  9  and amplifier  15  are connected to the lighting source  25  via connectors  53 . The light source  25  includes an illuminating bulb  55 . The lens  37  has an inner surface  57  and an outer surface  59 . The fan housing member  13  also contains a remote control input  61  (not shown). 
     A second embodiment of the present invention is detailed in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11  and  12 , wherein the speaker  17  or speakers  17  of the present invention are directed upwards toward the ceiling, and in the direction of the existing fan assembly  29 . Besides this change in orientation of the speaker or speakers relative to the existing ceiling fan assembly, this second embodiment also includes additional components, and has an absence of some components of the first embodiment, as more fully illustrated in the Figures and described below. One particularly beneficial aspect to this second embodiment is the reduction of heat from the existing ceiling fan assembly  29  being introduced into the speaker  17 , which improves performance, and is a distinguishing feature over the prior art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a view from below of a fully assembled ceiling fan with the present invention installed thereon is visible. One particular design of this second embodiment is visible thereon, that being the speaker enclosure dome  143 . The speaker enclosure dome houses the rear components of the speaker, and may optionally do so in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The receiver  9 , amplifier  15 , and remote control input  61  are among the components housed therein. The speaker enclosure dome  143  may be any suitable shape, but is preferably hemispherical or conical-frustral. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  collectively, several views of the ceiling fan housing member  13  of this second embodiment are visible. The globe  27  and the hardware associated therewith is not present in this second embodiment, and has been replaced by additional components, including a mounting bracket  145 , an optional plate cover  147 , one or more posts  149 , and an optional screen  151 . As can be seen in these Figures, which illustrate an embodiment where only one speaker is present, the speaker dome enclosure  143  is supported by the one or more posts  149 , which hold the speaker dome enclosure onto the mounting bracket  145 . It is preferred that a series of posts  149  are present to provide support to the speaker dome enclosure  143 . 
     The mounting bracket  145  in turn supports the entire ceiling fan housing member  13  onto the existing ceiling fan assembly  29 . The mounting bracket  145  may be fastened onto the existing ceiling fan assembly  29  by any suitable manner known by those of ordinary skill in the art, though this particular embodiment as illustrated includes a ⅜ inch threaded fastener  153 , and a retaining nut  155 , which is compatible with many ceiling fans currently in use and commerce. Screws  163  may be used to hold the speaker enclosure dome  143 , the posts  149 , the plate cover  147  and the sound displacement element  159  together, preferably passing through the posts  149 , which when assembled comprises the ceiling fan housing member  13 . Additional screws  165  may be used to hold the ceiling fan housing member  13  onto the mounting bracket  145 . 
     A screen  151 , when present, may cover the open space  157  between the speaker  17  or speakers  17  and the plate cover  147  and Mounting bracket  145 . The screen may be made of any suitable material that permits the substantially unaltered transmission of sound from the speaker therethrough. Examples of types of screens include non-solid mesh screens, the mesh potentially substantially comprising fiber or metal or some combination thereof. The screen  151  both provides an aesthetically-pleasing appearance, disguises the presence of the post or posts  149  and other internal components of the present invention, and prevents the introduction of foreign debris onto the speaker  17 . 
     A particularly important aspect of this second embodiment of the present invention is the presence of a sound displacement element  159 , which may be in the form of a three-dimensional bell curve, as illustrated in the Figures. The sound displacement element therefore comprises a convex surface, possessing an infinite number of identical potentially bisecting lines through the site of greatest convexity of the sound displacement element. The site of greatest convexity of the sound displacement element is the lowest point of the sound displacement element, when it is horizontally installed, as seen in the Figures. The sound displacement element overcomes problems in the prior art relating to speakers being pointed in the direction of fans, including ceiling fans. Typically, when a speaker is aimed at a fan, the fan blades reflect a portion of the sound waves, while permitting some to pass through, resulting in a distortion of the sound. This problem is overcome through the use of the sound displacement element  159 , in part because it prevents the ceiling fan blades  161  from interfering with the sound waves. 
     As can be seen in the Figures, the sound displacement element  159  should be centralized horizontally within the ceiling fan housing member  13 , and directly over the center of the speaker  17 . This is critical for proper dispersal of sound from the speaker  17 , and to prevent sound interference from the rotating ceiling fan blades  161 . The sound displacement element  159  constitutes a significant improvement over the art, and enables the speaker  17  to be pointed upward, which in turn prevents heat from the wiring and other components of the existing ceiling fan assembly  29  from interfering with the speaker  17 . The additional electrical components of the ceiling fan housing member  13  of the present invention, such as the receiver  9  and the amplifier  15 , may all be housed in the speaker enclosure dome  143  or in the concave cavity of the sound displacement element  159 , on the side opposite the speaker  17 . 
     In an embodiment, the speaker  17  or speakers  17  are, upon installation of the ceiling fan housing member  13 , oriented so as to direct the greatest amount of sound at the site of greatest convexity of the sound displacement element  159 . 
     In an embodiment, the center of the speaker  17  or speakers  17  is, upon installation of the ceiling fan housing member  13 , oriented substantially directly underneath the site of greatest convexity of the sound displacement element  159 . 
     In the present invention, with the presence of the sound displacement element  159 , where more than one speaker  17  is present, it is important that those speakers be stacked, so that each may benefit from the presence of the sound displacement element. When so stacked, the center of each speaker  17  should be in line with the center of the sound displacement element  159 . The order in which the speakers are stacked may be any. 
     A plate cover  147 , when present, may provide additional structural support to the ceiling fan housing member  13 , and may keep debris out of the concave portion of the sound displacement element  159 . 
     This second embodiment, as a part of the speaker enclosure dome  143 , may include an illuminating bulb  55  and additional light source components, as detailed elsewhere herein. It is preferred that the lens  37  covering the light source  25  be complimentary in shape to the outer surface of the speaker enclosure dome  143 . 
     In an embodiment, the wireless speaker system  1  is simply installed in an existing ceiling fan. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the existing ceiling fan may contain a light source  25 . In another embodiment, the wireless speaker system  1  is installed in a new ceiling fan. Also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the wireless speaker system  1  may contain a light source  25  within the ceiling fan housing member  13 . In another preferred embodiment, the light source  25  is white LED lighting, which is beneficial due to its negligible heat radiation on the speakers  17 . 
     In operation, the audio source generator  3  produces an audio signal that is imputed via the RCA connectors  5  and an audio input cord to the transmitter  7 . The audio signal can be produced by a number of various audio source generators  3 . In one embodiment, the wireless speaker system  1  is multi-channel, meaning that the audio is selectable from more than one source. The audio source generator  3  can be any audio source provider, not to be limited by the following: television; stereophonic; amplifier; monophonic; video game; home theater; or a public address system. 
     In an embodiment, channels may be changed remotely, without the need to manually access the ceiling fan housing member  13 , which is an improvement over the art. A dip switch, which is a form of spring-loaded click switch that breaks an electrical circuit, and is known by those of ordinary skill in the art, is a preferred component of the present invention, in conjunction with changing channels, in the event interference is encountered in the signal between the transmitter  7  and receiver  9 . When present, a dip switch may be located in the transmitter  7 , the receiver  9 , the remote control  107  or more than one of those. In a preferred embodiment, the dip switch is located in the transmitter  7  and controlled by the remote control  107 . 
     The transmitter  7  ( FIG. 1 ) modulates the audio signal to a radio frequency and then transmits the audio signal wirelessly to a wireless receiver located in the ceiling fan housing member  13  ( FIG. 2 ). The wireless receiver  9  then demodulates the audio signal. Then, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the amplifier  15  amplifies the audio sound portion of the audio signal. The amplified sound portion is then sent to the speakers  17 . The audio waves then travel through the sound grids  89  ( FIG. 3 ) of each speaker  17  out to the listening audience. 
     The wireless speaker system  1  is powered by the existing voltage available at the bottom of the ceiling fan also known as the input power  91  ( FIG. 2 ). The transformer  95  ( FIG. 4 ) converts the input power  91 , 110 VAC, to a lower DC voltage. The DC voltage powers both the receiver  9  and the amplifier  15  ( FIG. 2 ), which in turn powers the speakers  17 . In a preferred embodiment, the DC voltage is 12 VDC or 15 VDC. In another embodiment, the DC voltage could be multiple voltages. 
     It should be understood that the aforementioned embodiments are for exemplary purposes only and are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments that can represent applications of the principles of the invention. 
     Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, one of ordinary skill in the art can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions, including those not specifically laid out herein. As such, those changes and modifications are properly, equitable, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of the invention disclosed and described herein.