Patent Publication Number: US-6666296-B1

Title: Speaker assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to speaker constructions and more particularly pertains to a new speaker construction for providing stereo sound from one speaker assembly. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of speaker constructions is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that provides 4-channel stereo sound from a single unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a frame including a bottom portion. A plurality of vertical supports is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom portion. A top wall is attached to an upper end of the supports. A pair of dividing walls is positioned in the frame and attached to the supports. Each of the dividing walls is orientated substantially horizontally. A first wall of the pair of dividing walls is positioned generally between the top wall and the bottom portion. A second wall of the pair of dividing walls is positioned generally between the first wall and the top wall. A first compartment is defined between top wall and the first wall, a second compartment is defined between the first wall and the second wall, and a third compartment is defined between the second wall and the bottom portion. A plurality of tweeter speakers is mounted in the first compartment. A plurality of mid-range speakers is mounted in the second compartment. A base speaker is mounted in the third compartment. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic speaker view of a speaker assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic broken-side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the transmitter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2 of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2 of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an electronic schematic view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new speaker construction embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the speaker assembly  10  generally comprises a frame  12  including a bottom portion  14 . The bottom portion  14  has an upper surface  16  having a peripheral edge  18 . A plurality of vertical supports  20  is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom portion  14 . The vertical supports  20  are spaced from each other. The vertical supports  20  are positioned adjacent to the peripheral edge  18  of the bottom portion  14 . A top wall  22  is attached to an upper end of the vertical supports  20 . The bottom portion  14  has a cavity  24  positioned therein. A covering  26  is positioned on the vertical supports  20  and extends between the bottom portion  14  and the top wall  22 . The covering  26  is air permeable. The covering  26  comprises a cloth material. The peripheral edge  1   8  has a generally circular shape. 
     A pair of dividing walls is positioned in the frame  12  and attached to the supports  20 . Each of the dividing walls is orientated substantially horizontally. A first wall  28  of the pair of dividing walls is positioned generally between the top wall  22  and the bottom portion  14 . A second wall  30  of the pair of dividing walls is positioned generally between the first wall  28  and the top wall  22 . A first compartment  31  is defined between top wall  22  and the second wall  30 , a second compartment  32  is defined between the first wall  28  and the second wall  30 , and a third  33  compartment is defined between the first wall  28  and the bottom portion  14 . 
     A first mounting  34  is attached to and extending upwardly from the second wall  30 , and a second mounting  36  is attached to and extending upwardly from the first wall  28 . The first  34  and second  36  mountings are centrally disposed on a respective one of the first  28  and second  30  walls. 
     Three tweeter speakers  38  are mounted on the first mounting  34 . The tweeter speakers  38  are spaced from each other around the first mounting such each of the tweeter speakers  38  are directed outwardly. The tweeter speakers  38  each lie in a same plane. There is 120 degrees of directional separation between adjacent pairs of the tweeter speakers  38 . Tweeter speakers, as the term is known in the art, include small loudspeakers that are designed to reproduce high-pitched sounds in a high-fidelity audio system. The tweeter speakers  38  of the current device are preferably those having a 3″ surface diameter. 
     Three mid-range speakers  40  are mounted on the second mounting  36 . The mid-range speakers  40  are spaced from each other around the second mounting such each of the mid-range speakers are directed outwardly. The mid-range speakers  40  each lie in a same plane. There is 120 degrees of directional separation between adjacent pairs of the mid-range speakers. Ideally, each of the mid-range speakers  40  is vertically aligned with one of the tweeter speakers  38 . The mid-range speakers  40  of the current device are preferably those having a 4″ surface diameter. 
     A base speaker  42  is mounted in the upper surface  16  of the bottom portion  14  and extends into the cavity  24 . The base speaker  42  is directed upwardly. The base speaker  42  of the current device preferably has a 12″ surface diameter. 
     A plurality of sound reflecting discs is mounted in the frame  12 . A first  44  of the discs is mounted on top wall  22  and is directed downward toward the tweeter speakers  38 . A second  46  of the discs is mounted on the second wall  30  and is directed downward toward the mid-range speakers  40 . A third  48  of the discs is mounted on the first wall  28  and is directed downward toward the base speaker  42 . Preferably, each of the discs has a downward directed convex surface. The discs  44 ,  46 ,  48  are preferably constructed of rigid material having a relatively high density such as a metal or porcelain. 
     The speaker assembly  10  preferably includes a wireless receiver  50  adapted for varying the relative outputs of the speakers in the speaker assembly  10  and for sending audio output signals to the speakers. The wireless receiver  50  would be electrically coupled to each of the speakers in the speaker assembly  10 . A transmitting unit  52  would be used to send the audio output signals to the wireless receiver  50 . The transmitting unit  52  may be operationally coupled to a conventional receiver  54  for transmitting audio output signals to the speakers. In this manner, the speaker assembly  10  would be operational as long as they are within the range of the transmitting unit. The speaker assembly  10  would preferably include a conventional power supply  54  electrically coupled to each of the speakers. The power supply  56  may include a cord that would be plugged into a conventional electrical outlet. 
     In use, the speaker assembly would be used as a conventional speaker only it would include all of the speakers required to form 3-dimensional stereo sound because of the direction of the speakers. The speaker assembly would have the functional equivalent of a conventional 4-channel speaker system. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.