Patent Publication Number: US-2023164487-A1

Title: Sound bar assembly with adjustable endcaps

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/281,613 filed Nov. 19, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This description relates generally to home entertainment electronics and more specifically to audio and visual systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Flat screen television manufacturers tend to concentrate on producing a TV that produces a quality picture with sound quality not being as important. In addition, there tends to be competition in producing a flat screen television (“TV” or “television”) that has a sleek or slim outline, and tends to be thin in cross section. Circuitry for reproducing improved sound to accompany a television picture on the other hand tends to increase the size of the television enclosure, if the sound circuitry is disposed in the television chassis. Accordingly the speakers provided in a flat screen television may not produce as good sound as the old CRT TVs whose larger cabinets allowed for better speakers and speaker enclosures. Accordingly to get pleasing sound to go with a beautiful picture produced on their flat screen TV, consumers may customize a sound signal from the flat screen TV with various auxiliary components. 
     A TV may typically be coupled to an auxiliary sound system such as a stereo or multichannel system typically including an amplifier or receiver and high quality speakers. A more typical and more cost effective solution may be to add a sound bar (either with or without a remote subwoofer). Coupling such an auxiliary sound system to the television tends to fill the room with improved sound or otherwise enhance audio emanating from a television&#39;s speakers in volume and quality. Accordingly many television manufacturers often produce televisions with minimal audio circuitry in anticipation of the consumers using add on audio components for improved sound. 
     The sound bar (or equivalently “soundbar” or “media bar”) configuration is typically in the form of an oblong box mounted adjacent to the television. Even though they tend to not produce as good a sound as a home sound system (stereo or multichannel), a sound bar still provides improvement over the sound of the TV alone. The sound bar may include right and left speakers, a center channel speaker, or the like. All of which tend to produce an improvement in volume as well enhancing directional effects. 
     Conventional sound bars are often purchased as an add-on component suitable for use with a wide variety of televisions. However, televisions tend to come in a variety of widths.-Even for televisions with the same nominal scree size the overall width of the television may vary as flat screen TVs may have bezels of varying widths. Typical sound bars may be provided in one or more fixed widths, some of which may be produced in various widths to nominally match the width of a particular television. However, the sizing may be off due to variations in the various actual TV widths. Since sound bars are typically mounted adjacent to a television set, if the widths of the components do not match a non-uniform appearance is presented. Accordingly it would be desirable to provide a sound bar that has an adjustable width so that its width may be made to better match the differing widths of various TVs, providing a more streamlined overall appearance. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The present example provides an adjustable length sound bar (“adjustable sound bar”) that includes endcaps (or equivalently “end caps”) under spring bias that may be adjusted in or out-allowing the sound bar width to better match the width of an adjacent component, such as television by extending or retracting endcaps of the sound bar. 
     Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    shows a television with a conventional sound bar. 
         FIG.  2    shows a television system including an adjustable sound bar with adjustable endcaps. 
         FIG.  3    shows an incline view of adjustable sound bar. 
         FIG.  4    shows an exploded view of the end of the adjustable sound bar. 
         FIG.  5    shows a method of adjusting the adjustable sound bar width. 
         FIG.  6    shows a method of adjusting an endcap on the adjustable sound bar. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples. 
     The examples below describe an adjustable sound bar system. Although the present examples are described and illustrated as being implemented as a horizontal rectangular adjustable sound bar system, the system described is provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of mountings such as vertical, or the like. And a variety of differing shaped adjustable sound bars (such as oval square, round, and the like) may be produced. 
       FIG.  1    shows a television  101  with a conventional sound bar  103 . In a typical home a TV  101  may have a sound bar  103  of a nominal bar width  111  disposed beneath it. The sound bar  103  typically contains a plurality of speakers  113 . The sound bar is coupled to the TV audio outputs (not shown) through a wired, optical or wireless connection (not shown) to enhance the sound produced by the TV through the speakers. 
     Such sound bars  103  are typically of a fixed width, and there may be gaps  105  between the end of the sound bar and the edge of the TV  101  when the bar is typically centered beneath the TV  101 , giving a mismatched overall appearance. This gap may be present even though the nominal screen width of the TV  109  and the sound bar width  111  are stated as being the same. The gap is typically due to variation in the bezels  107  made by the various manufacturers. 
     It would be desirable to have a sound bar that may be adjusted in length to match the overall TV width  115  that typically varies from manufacturer to manufacturer for sets of the same nominal screen width  109 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a television system including an adjustable sound bar with adjustable endcaps  203 . The length of the enclosure assembly  213  may be selected to be less than the smallest TV in the design range, and the adjustment range provided by the endcaps may be selected so that the endcaps fill the gap left by the widest TV in the design range when the endcaps are extended. 
     The sound bar with adjustable endcaps may be part of an audio visual system that includes a remote control  221 , and a conventionally constructed TV  101 , and remote subwoofer  214 . The sound bar with adjustable endcaps  203  includes an enclosure assembly  213 , and endcaps  207 ,  209  slidably disposed over the exterior of the enclosure assembly  213 . 
     The enclosure assembly  213  typically includes electrical components  219  and is of a fixed width. Keeping the enclosure assembly of a fixed width allows the electrical components such as external connections, audio processing circuitry, crossover networks speakers and the like to have a common layout that may be used in sound bars for a variety of TV widths. 
     The enclosure assembly  213  may include electrical components  219 . Components may include a panel for external connections, audio processing circuitry, speakers, and the like. In particular tweeters of the ribbon type may be utilized. The enclosure may be covered, or partially covered with speaker grill material, such as cloth or the like (not shown). 
     The endcaps  207 ,  209  may each be adjusted over a range of adjustment  205 . The final adjusted width  217  of the adjustable sound bar  203  typically matches the width  211  of the TV  101 . The endcaps  207 ,  209  are typically slidably coupled to the enclosure assembly. That is the interior geometry and dimensions of the endcaps may be selected to match the exterior of the enclosure assembly (with dimensional allowance to allow the endcap (or equivalently “end cap”) to slide over the enclosure assembly. The endcaps are hollow and of a depth equal to the desired gap plus a further amount (as determined by those skilled in the art) to still guide the endcap over the sound bar when the endcap is extended to its maximum. In alternative examples a sound bar with adjustable endcaps having only one endcap may be produced. 
     A subwoofer  214  and a remote control  221  may also be included in the system. The adjustable sound bar may be coupled (connections not shown) to the TV  101 , and other external components such as a remote subwoofer  214  as is known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively the subwoofer may be connected to the TV  101 . Connections may be of any hard wired type known to those skilled in the art such as RCA connectors, optical cables or the like. Alternatively conventional wireless connections, such as Bluetooth or the like may be utilized, in particular to the subwoofer  213 , and remote control  221  which are often more distant from the TV, and where wires or cables would be cumbersome. 
       FIG.  3    shows an incline view of adjustable sound bar  203 . In particular the view is of the rear of the adjustable sound bar  203 . Shown is the case  303  including the enclosure assembly  213 , electrical connections  314 , and a pair of bulkhead ends  301 . Endcaps  207 ,  209  include apertures  315  and fit over the bulkhead ends  301 . 
     In the present example the overall shape of the sound bar  203  is rectangular with endcaps  207 ,  209  positioned at opposite ends of the case  303 . As can be seen in the figure the endcaps  207 ,  209  fit over the bulkhead ends  301  and may slide along the exterior of the case  303  when adjusted through apertures  315  in each endcap. The endcaps  207 ,  209  are typically made from a plastic material, or alternatively from a material matching the case  303 . 
     The enclosure assembly  213  is shown as being assembled from a plurality of panels. However in alternative examples the enclosure assembly may be formed from an extrusion. In alternative examples the case may have any elongate shape, including tubular, oval, irregular, or the like with endcaps of an appropriate shape fitting over the ends and adjusted as described herein. The enclosure assembly  213  may be made from aluminum, plastic or any suitable material. 
     The case  303  includes bulkhead ends  301  at opposite ends of the case  303  over which the endcaps  207 ,  207  are slidably disposed. The bulkhead ends  301  and the matching endcaps  207 ,  209  are shown as being identical. However, depending upon desired design aesthetics the ends may be of differing shapes and or dimensions. 
     In alternative examples the endcaps may slide along the interior of the body, or over internal guides. In alternative examples the endcaps may also be guided by tracks, or guide rods. In general adjustment of the endcaps may be accomplished through rotation of any suitable routable adjustment device accessed at an aperture  315  in each endcap. In an alternative example the endcaps may be adjusted via a friction fit. In summary any device known to those skilled in the art that allows the endcaps to be extracted or extended to a desired length without falling off or slipping may be employed. 
     The electrical connections  314  (typically optical, wireless, or the like) are shown positioned as centered in the back of the case  303 . However they may be positioned at any convenient location on the back of the case  303 , or even on any other available surface, or split into several locations (such as a headphone jack or other auxiliary connection of a front side. 
       FIG.  4    shows an exploded view of an end of the adjustable sound bar  203 . The view shows the details of how the adjustable endcap  207  may be installed on the enclosure assembly  213  that contains the sound components (not shown). 
     In the present example the screw  401  is inserted through an aperture  315  in the endcap. The endcap  207  is typically empty, and shaped to fit over the bulkhead end  301  of the case  303 . The aperture  315  is typically positioned at the center of the endcap  207 . That is the endcap aperture may be disposed in a surface opposite an open end of the endcap. The screw may be threadably coupled to the bulkhead end  301  via a threaded hole  403  that is centered in the bulkhead end  301 . 
     The bulkhead end  301  typically presents a flat surface parallel to an interior flat surface located at the interior of the endcap  207 . Two receiver holes  403  may be disposed in the bulkhead end  301 . The receiver holes  403  are typically positioned with the threaded hole  403  between them. The receiver holes are of a diameter sufficient to allow exemplary coil springs  10  inserted into them to flex freely in the longitudinal direction. The holes  403  are blind holes, as they are not through holes but provide a backstop (either by not being drilled through, or by having a plate installed over the back of a through hole) for the spring  10  at one spring end (the interior surface of the endcap  207  providing a backstop for the opposite other spring end of the spring  10 ). The perimeter of the bulkhead  301  typically follows the outline of the interior of the endcap in a way that allows the endcap to slide over the exterior of the enclosure assembly  213 . 
     The endcap  207  is typically cup shaped without interior details, and side walls that are of approximately uniform thickness. Endcap  207  is sized to fit over the body of the case  303  at the bulkhead end  301 . The side walls are shaped to slide over the exterior surface of the enclosure assembly  213 . The aperture in the endcap has a diameter greater than that of the threaded portion of the fastener for clearance, but a diameter less than that of the head of the fastener. 
     A screw  401 , threaded fastener, or other equivalent mechanism may be used to adjust the distance the endcap being pushed away from the case  303 . In the example shown an exemplary flat headed M4×40 mm long screw is used. Accordingly each endcap in the present example may be adjusted less than 40 mm. In alternative examples other types of fasteners of differing types threads and lengths, and the like may be used. In an alternative example the springs may be eliminated and a screw with a head that is captive to the cap and free to rotate may be used to extend and retract the endcap. 
     One or more exemplary coil springs  10  provide mechanical bias to push the endcap  207  outward and away from the bulkhead  301  by pushing against an inner surface of the endcap. The uncompressed length of the spring should be long enough that it does not fall out when the screw  401  is minimally engaged with threaded hole  403 . Spring bias pushes the cap out to its extended position as limited by a flat head screw  401  inserted through aperture  315 , keeping the cap in place. 
     The springs  10  shown are coil springs, however other equivalent types devices capable of providing mechanical bias such as leaf springs or the like may also be used. As the screw is drawn towards the bulkhead end  301  the springs  10  tend to compress and keep the cap pushed out against the screw head as the cap moves towards the bulkhead end  301 . As the screw is extended away from the bulkhead end  301  the springs  10  extend but still tend to provide bias to keep the cap pushed out against the screw head as the cap moves away from the bulkhead end  301 . 
     By extending or retracting the screw  401  the endcap may be extended or retracted to make the width of the sound bar match the width of the TV. In alternative examples other ways of extending and retracting the endcap as known to those skilled in the art may be employed. 
       FIG.  5    shows a method  501  of adjusting the adjustable sound bar ( 203  of  FIG.  2   ) width. The goal is to adjust the sound bar width to match a TV&#39;s width as much as possible. First select a sound bar that has adjustment range that corresponds to a TV width  501 . If the endcaps are not preinstalled they may be installed as described in  FIG.  6   . 
     To adjust the width of the sound bar to match that of the TV, center the sound bar along an edge of the TV,  503 . Adjust the adjustment screw at each end of the sound bar until the sound bar width matches that of the TV  505 . Alternatively, only one endcap can be adjusted typically in situations where the sound bar is very close to the width of the television. 
       FIG.  6    shows a method  601  of adjusting an endcap on the adjustable sound bar ( 203  of  FIG.  2   ). First at insert the springs ( 10  of  FIG.  4   ) into the receiving holes ( 5  of  FIG.  4   ) of the end bulkhead  603 . At block  605  an exemplary flat headed M4×44 mm long screw ( 401  of  FIG.  4   ) is inserted through aperture  315  of the endcap ( 207  of  FIG.  4   ). At  607  the screw ( 401  of  FIG.  4   ) is tightened pulling the endcap ( 207  of  FIG.  4   ) towards the bulkhead ( 301  of  FIG.  4   ), and compressing the springs ( 10  of  FIG.  4   ). At  609  the adjustment continues until the endcap is in the desired position. At  611  the process is repeated for the opposite end of the adjustable length sound bar. 
     Those skilled in the art will realize that the process sequences described above may be equivalently performed in any order to achieve a desired result. Also, sub-processes may typically be omitted as desired without taking away from the overall functionality of the processes described above.