Patent Publication Number: US-11051092-B2

Title: Modular speaker cover

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/174,225, filed on 29 Oct. 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/390,044, filed on 23 Dec. 2016. The applications referenced in this paragraph are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     Described herein are devices relating generally to audio equipment, and specifically for speaker covers, for example, for use in a vehicle. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A speaker grille is often combined with a speaker to protect it from impact with foreign objects. The speaker grille is typically coupled to the basket of the speaker and at least partially covers the face of the speaker. The speaker grille may or may not be removable from the speaker. A speaker grille&#39;s primary purpose is to protect the speaker from damage by contact with other objects. 
     One problem with conventional speaker grilles is that they are not easily replaceable with substitute speaker grilles, such as speaker grilles of various designs, colors, and textures. This problem arises particularly in the context of speaker grilles for vehicles, for example ATVs or UTVs, where the user may wish to color coordinate the interior of a vehicle. For instance, the user may wish to have the color of the speaker grille match the color of the gearbox and seat covers within the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Described herein is a modular speaker cover that is configured to be removably attached to a speaker basket. In some embodiments, the modular speaker cover is comprised of at least two parts: a modular grille and a grille insert. The grille insert fits over and is removably attachable to the modular grille and can be interchangeable with other grille inserts of various colors, shapes, and/or textures. The modular grille and the grille insert can both be attached to the speaker using the same means of connection such as, for example, the same screws, by aligning holes in the modular grille and grille insert to holes in the speaker basket. 
     In other embodiments, the modular speaker cover is a single piece that is comparable to the combined pieces of the modular grille and the grille insert. This type of modular speaker cover can be interchangeable with other modular speaker covers of various colors, shapes, and/or textures. 
     These and other further features and advantages of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the figures, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top-left exploded view of a modular speaker cover according to one embodiment of the present invention and a speaker; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a modular speaker cover according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified top view of a modular speaker cover according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top exploded view of a modular speaker cover according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a modular speaker cover according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom exploded view of a modular speaker cover according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a grille insert according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of a grille insert according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a modular speaker cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure will now set forth detailed descriptions of various embodiments. These embodiments set forth modular speaker covers that can be efficiently replaced in part or whole with an alternate grille insert or modular speaker cover. 
     In some embodiments incorporating features of the present invention, the device comprises a modular grille and a grille insert. In some embodiments, the grille insert fits over and is removably attached to the modular grille and can be interchangeable with other grille inserts of various colors, shapes, and/or textures. In some embodiments, the modular grille and the grille insert are removably attached to the speaker using the same means of connection such as, for example, the same screws, by aligning holes in the modular grille and grille insert to holes in the speaker basket. The device can be configured to connect to the face of various types of speakers, such as speakers found in vehicles. 
     Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples illustrated should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. As used herein, the term “invention,” “device,” “present invention,” or “present device” refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the “invention,” “device,” “present invention,” or “present device” throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced feature(s). 
     It is also understood that when an element or feature is referred to as being “on” or “adjacent” to another element or feature, it can be directly on or adjacent the other element or feature or intervening elements or features may also be present. It is also understood that when an element is referred to as being “attached,” “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly attached, connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly attached,” “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Relative terms, such as “outer,” “above,” “lower,” “below,” “horizontal,” “vertical” and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one feature to another. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. 
     Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component. Thus, a first element or component discussed below could be termed a second element or component without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated list items. 
     The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to different views and illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of the regions illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
     It is understood that when a first element is referred to as being “between,” “sandwiched,” or “sandwiched between,” two or more other elements, the first element can be directly between the two or more other elements or intervening elements may also be present between the two or more other elements. For example, if a first element is “between” or “sandwiched between” a second and third element, the first element can be directly between the second and third elements with no intervening elements or the first element can be adjacent to one or more additional elements with the first element and these additional elements all between the second and third elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a modular speaker cover device  100  incorporating features of the present invention. The modular speaker cover device  100  comprises a modular grille  101  and a grille insert  120 . The modular grille  101  and the grille insert  120  are configured to cover at least part of the face of a speaker  130 . The modular grille  101  and the grille insert  120  can comprise materials that have favorable acoustic qualities and that do not impede or negatively impact the sound produced by the speaker  130 . Some suitable materials the modular grille  101  and the grille insert  120  can comprise include, but are not limited to, resin, rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene foam, polymers/copolymer substances, acrylic substances, plastic, metal, glass, fiberglass, wood or a combination thereof. 
     The modular grille  101  and the grille insert  120  can be formed by any suitable method, for example, molding, injection molding, stamping/pressing, three-dimensional printing, extrusion and/or any methods known in the art of sound equipment manufacturing. The modular grille  101  and the grille insert  120  can each be formed from multiple component parts, or one or more portions of the body can be formed together as a single part. Forming portions of the modular grille  101  together as a single part can improve the structural integrity of the modular grille  101 . Similarly, forming portions of the grille insert  120  together as a single part can improve its structural integrity. 
     The modular grille  101  can comprise an outer frame  102 , an inner frame  104 , and a center frame  108 . The outer frame  102  defines the peripheral shape of the modular grille and can form numerous shapes, such as a circular shape, quadrilateral shape, or hexagonal shape. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  depicts a circular outer frame  102  shaped to closely fit over the speaker basket  132 . In other embodiments, the outer frame  102  is of a shape different from that of the speaker basket  132  to which it is attached to give the appearance that the speaker is of a different shape. 
     In some embodiments, a grille mesh (not shown) is placed between the speaker  130  and the modular grille  101 . The grille mesh can fully or partially cover the face of the speaker  130 . One benefit to including a grille mesh is that the speaker is protected from small objects such as debris. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the inner frame  104  couples the outer frame  102  to the center frame  108 . The inner frame  104  comprises grille arms  106 , which can have flat surfaces, a rounded surface or surfaces, or a combination of flat and rounded surfaces. In some embodiments, the inner frame further comprises grille connectors  107 , which join together neighboring arms and/or connect the grille arms  106  to the center frame  108 . In some embodiments, the grille arms  106  connect the outer frame  102  to the center frame  108 . In some embodiments, the arms can be positioned in pairs such that the distance between a pair of grille arms  106  is less than the distance between one of the grille arms  106  within the pair and a grille arm  106  with which it is not paired. In other embodiments, the grille arms  106  are grouped in sets of three or four or any number of arms. In still other embodiments, the grille arms  106  can be equidistant from each other and evenly spaced. In some embodiments, the grille arms  106  are joined directly to at least one neighboring grille arm  106  near or at the center frame  108 . In some embodiments, a grille connector  107  can have flat surfaces, a rounded surface or surfaces, or a combination of flat and rounded surfaces. In some embodiments, the grille arms  106  and grille connectors  107  comprise a flat top surface and two flat lateral surfaces. 
     In some embodiments, the modular grille  101  also includes a center piece  110  within the center frame  108 , which offers further protection to the face of the speaker  130 . In some embodiments, the grille connectors  107  are concentric with the center frame  108  and connected to the most medial locations of the grille arms  106 . The grille connectors  107  provide further structural stability to the modular grille  101 . The grille connectors  107  are generally near or connected to the center piece  110 , but they can connect to the grille arms  106  in various locations in other embodiments, such as between the outer frame  102  and the center frame  108 , but separate from the center frame. Each grille connector  107  can also connect one or more grille arms  106  to the center frame  108 . In some embodiments, the modular grille  101  further comprises aesthetic designs  114 . 
     In some embodiments, the grille arms  106  are thicker by the center frame  108  than by the outer frame  102 . This allows the modular grille  101  to have a rigid and durable structure while limiting the physical barriers that cover the speaker  130 . The grille arms  106  can gradually and/or smoothly taper from the center frame  108  to the outer frame  102 , or the thickness of the grille arms  106  can change incrementally. In other embodiments, the thickness of the grille arms  106  remains constant. In some embodiments, the thickness of the grille arms  106  varies according to a desired pattern for the modular grille  101 . 
     The center frame  108  is located at the center of the modular grille  101 . The center frame  108  connects to the grille arms  106  and/or the grille connectors  107 . In some embodiments, the center piece  110  contains holes to enhance the transmission of emitted sound waves from the speaker  130  through the center piece  110 . The holes can be positioned to form concentric circles around the center of the center piece  110 , or they can be in various patterns. In some embodiments, the center piece  110  is removable from the center frame  108  to allow for replacement with an alternate center piece. In some embodiments, the center piece  110  is connected and/or integral to the center frame  108 . In other embodiments, the center piece  110  is connected and/or integral to the grille insert  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the modular grille  101  contains grille holes  112 . The modular grille  101  is removably attached to the speaker basket  132  by screws inserted through the grille holes  112  and aligned basket holes  134 , which are generally contained in speaker baskets for mounting the speakers and/or attaching speaker grilles. In some embodiments, the grille arms  106  connect to the outer frame  102  near the grille holes  112 . In some embodiments, the grille holes  112  are between paired grille arms  106 . In some embodiments, the modular grille  101  connects to the speaker basket  132  by alternate attachment mechanisms, such as adhesives, clasps, snap-fit fasteners, hook and loop attachment mechanisms, or any attachment mechanisms known within the field. 
     The grille insert  120  fits over at least a portion of the modular grill  101 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a grille insert  120  shaped to fit over the grille arms  106  and grille connectors  107  of the modular grille  101 . The grille insert  120  is also shaped to fit over and/or around the grille holes  112 . The grille insert  120  comprises insert arms  122 , and insert connectors  123 . In some embodiments, the insert arms  122  fit over the top and lateral portions of the grille arms  106  such that the grille arms  106  are not visible. In some embodiments, the insert connectors  123  fit over the top and at least partially over the lateral portions of the grille connectors  107  such that the grille connectors  107  are not visible. The grille insert  120  can also provide additional structural support to the modular speaker cover  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the grille insert  120  further comprises attachment areas  126  at the ends of the insert arms  122 . In some embodiments, the attachment areas  126  comprise an insert hole  124  within a connection between adjoining insert arms  122 . The insert holes  124  align with grille holes  112  when the grille insert  120  is on the modular grille  101 . Attachment mechanisms, such as screws, fit through the insert holes  124  and the grille holes  112  and into the basket holes  134 . Thus, the grille insert  120  is removably attached to the speaker  130  via the same means, with the same mechanisms with which the modular grille  101  is attached to the speaker  130 . In some embodiments, the grille insert  120  connects to the modular grille  101  by alternative attachment mechanisms known within the art, such as adhesives, clasps, snap-fit fasteners, or hook and loop attachment mechanisms. In some embodiments, the grille insert  120  attaches to the speaker  130  by a means different from the means by which the modular grille  101  attaches to the speaker  130  and/or at a location other than where the modular grille  101  attaches to the speaker  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the modular grille  101  comprises recessed areas where the grille insert  120  fits over the modular grille  101 . These recessed areas can be in various locations on the modular grille  101 , such as surrounding and/or near the grille holes  112 . These recessed areas allow for the grille insert  120  to have a secure and integrated fit with the modular grille  101 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a modular speaker cover  300  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the modular speaker cover  300  comprises a modular grille  301  and a grille insert  320 . The modular grille  301  comprises an inner frame  304  (not visible in  FIG. 2 , but shown in  FIG. 4 ) connecting an outer frame  302  to a center frame  308 . In some embodiments, the modular grille  301  further comprises aesthetic designs  314 . The grille insert  320  comprises insert arms  322 , insert connectors  323 , and attachment areas  326 . In some embodiments, each attachment area  326  comprises an insert hole  324  within a connection between adjoining insert arms  322 . The grille insert  320  fits onto the modular grille  301 . In some embodiments, as in  FIG. 2 , the grille insert  320  covers all of the inner frame  304 . In other embodiments, the grille insert  320  covers only part of the inner frame  304 . In yet other embodiments, the grille insert  320  does not cover any of the inner frame  304 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a magnified top view of a modular speaker cover  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which clearly depicts the alignment of the grille holes  312  and the insert holes  324  when the grille insert  320  is on the modular grille  301 . This alignment allows both the modular grille  301  and the grille insert  320  to be removably attached to the speaker via the same attachment mechanisms such as, for example, screws. Once screws are inserted in the insert holes  324 , the grille holes  312 , and the basket holes  134 , the grille insert  320  becomes securely fixed to the modular grille  301  and the speaker  130 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the top side of the grille insert  320  unattached from the modular grille  301 . In this view the modular grille&#39;s inner frame  304  is visible. The inner frame  304  connects the outer frame  302  to the center frame  308 , and comprises the grille arms  306  and the grille connectors  307 . In this embodiment, the grille insert  320  mimics the shape of the grille arms  306  and the grille connectors  307 . The grille holes  312  and the insert holes  324  are located such that they align with each other when the grille insert  320  is attached to the modular grille  301 . In other embodiments, the grille insert  320  may be of a different shape than that of the grille arms  306  and the grille connectors  307 . The modular grille  301  comprises grille indentations  327  where the grille arms  306  connect to the outer frame  302  for receiving the attachment areas  326 . In some embodiments, the grille insert  320  further comprises curtains  309  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) along the insert arms  322  and insert connectors  323  that cover the lateral surfaces of the grille arms  306  and the grille connectors  307 , while leaving the bottom surface of the grille arms  306  and grille connectors  307  uncovered. 
       FIG. 5  shows the bottom sides of the curtains  309  on the grille insert  320  while attached to the modular grille  301 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the bottom sides of the grille insert  320  and the modular grille  301  while they are unattached. The grille insert  320  comprises connector receptors  328  along the insert connectors  323 . The connector receptors  328  are essentially the absence of curtains  309 , and are positioned along the insert connectors  323  where the insert connectors  323  fit over the junction of the grille connectors  307  and the center frame  308 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the grille insert  320 . As shown, the connector receptors  328  are located at the most medial positions of the grille insert  320 , and the attachment areas  326  are located at the most lateral positions of the grille insert  320 . The grille insert  320  attaches to the outer frame  302  of the modular grille  301  at the attachment areas  326 . The modular grille  301  comprises grille indentations  327  where the grille arms  306  connect to the outer frame  302  for receiving the attachment areas  326  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Similarly, the attachment areas  326  located at the ends of the insert arms  322  comprise insert indentations  329  to better couple with the modular grille  301 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the bottom of the grille insert  320 , particularly the curtains  309 , the connector receptors  328 , and the attachment areas  326  comprising the insert holes  324 . As shown, the insert connectors  323  only have curtains  309  along the lateral or outside portion of the insert connectors  323 , because the connector receptors  328  are located along the medial or inside portion of the insert connectors  323 . 
       FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a modular speaker cover  400  comprising a single unit rather than a separate modular grille  101  and grille insert  120 . This embodiment functions similarly to the modular speaker cover  100 , but as if the grille insert  120  were permanently attached to the modular grille  101 . Thus, the modular speaker cover as a whole is removably attachable to the speaker  130 . A grille mesh (not shown) can be placed between the speaker and the speaker cover  400 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Embodiments of the present invention can comprise any combination of compatible features shown in the various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the versions described above. 
     The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims, wherein no portion of the disclosure is intended, expressly or implicitly, to be dedicated to the public domain if not set forth in any claims.