Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed where a musical system is integrated with an outdoor seating apparatus, such that a user may rest comfortably while listening to music. The musical system is designed to withstand outdoor weather conditions. The musical system, typically a radio, is integrated with the backrest portion of the seating apparatus. The radio is designed to function in both extreme hot and cold temperatures. The radio also features RCA inputs, so that external signal inputs may be played on the radio&#39;s speakers. A cellular modem and interface is present so that a computer can connect to the Internet. An adapter is also present so a cell phone can connect to the radio, and use the radio&#39;s speakers. The speakers can be magnetic coil based, or may use flat panel speaker technology.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The invention relates to a musical bench. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and to a family of methods implementing a bench that plays music.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Presently in the world there exists a divide where tools for enjoyment, and tools for comfort, are not integrated. Tools for entertainment include radios, CD players and computers. Tools for comfort include chairs, sofas and benches  
           [0005]    However, there have been some attempts to bridge the two together. Linder, Inflatable chair with speakers, U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,551, Oct. 24, 2000, discloses an inflatable chair with speakers that are mounted flush within the inflatable chair. Similarly, Pollock,  Communication system that supports wireless remote programming process,  U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,711, Jan. 19, 1999, discloses a rocking chair that contains a concertina musical instrument.  
           [0006]    The problem with the aforementioned inventions is that they are not well suited for functioning outdoors. They can easily fail in extreme hot, cold or humid situations. Also, because they are designed to function indoors, they fail to have other integrated items that would be of great value in an outdoor setting.  
           [0007]    What is needed is a device that can perform many of the amenities found indoors in an outdoor setting.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    A method and apparatus is disclosed where a musical unit is integrated with an outdoor seating apparatus, such that a user may rest comfortably while listening to music. The musical unit is designed to withstand outdoor weather conditions. The musical unit is integrated with the backrest portion of the seating apparatus. The unit typically has two parts; the first part is an enclosure that a radio shares with a speaker, and a second part where another speaker has its own enclosure.  
           [0009]    The unit is designed to function in both extreme hot and cold temperatures. The unit also features RCA inputs, so that external signal inputs may be played on the unit&#39;s speakers. A cellular modem, and interface is present, so that a computer can connect to the unit and use the Internet. Also, an adapter is present so that a cell phone can use the unit&#39;s speakers. The unit is also adapted to perform intercom features, such as two-way communication with another intercom site.  
           [0010]    The speakers can be based on magnetic coil or flat panel speaker technology. The flat panel speakers may use the seating frame to project sounds. The flat panel emitters can be adapted to take into account the material and geometry of the seating apparatus.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the frontal view of the musical bench, with the speakers orientated vertically, according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the frontal view of the musical bench with the speakers orientated horizontally, according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the frontal view of the enclosure with a speaker grill, according to the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a front cover and emitter for the enclosure, according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an emitter placed on a musical bench, according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating multiple emitters applied to a musical bench, according to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 7A, 7B and  7 C are diagrams illustrating the use of multiple emitters, according to the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the placement of an infrared sensor, according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the musical bench  100 . The bench has an enclosed radio component attached to one backing  110 . Two speakers are present; one speaker occupies the same enclosure as the radio component  110 , while the other speaker occupies a separate enclosure  120  located on an opposite backing. The speakers may face forward, or may face inward. Each enclosure is attached to the bench, either by a highly non-degradable adhesive, or by metal screws. An amplifier is also present, and may be located in either enclosure, but is typically located in the same enclosure as the radio. Three wire leads extend from the amplifier; one lead is the input signal from the radio, while the other two leads each extend to a speaker. The amplifier lead that extends from the enclosure where the amplifier is located, to the other enclosure, passes inside one of the backing panels  130 , of the bench to the other speaker.  
         [0020]    In another embodiment, one enclosure contains an amplifier and speaker, while the other enclosure contains a speaker. The amplifier receives a signal input through an adapter from an external source, such as, a CD player or cell phone.  
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the enclosures  210 ,  220  are mounted top to bottom as shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    The radio consists of a single chip FM, AM or both, tuner chip such as the OM5 6 1 0 from Phillips. The tuner is mounted on a printed wire circuit board (PCB) with controls interfaced to the case of an electronics module, for example the 1000 model produced by DCA of Cushing, Okla. This is accomplished by building a wiring harness with switches that mate directly to the molded housing. An alternate method is to connect the harness to the membrane control panel that integrates the basic functions.  
         [0023]    The typical operating environment for the musical bench is outdoors, for example, as patio or lawn furniture. The musical bench is designed to operate in all seasons. One design goal is to ensure that the radio can operate in a temperature range from 0 to 70′C. The radio, amplifier and speaker unit (UNIT) can fail in several ways, two of which are, electrical circuitry failure or speaker failure.  
         [0024]    The power source consists of a battery source providing an input voltage from 2.7-9.0 volts. A voltage from 2.7-9 volts is ideal to prevent overheating of the circuitry at extremely high temperatures (discussed infra). The batteries can be three lithium batteries.  
         [0025]    In another embodiment, NiCad batteries are used. The NiCad batteries are continually recharged by solar panels attached to the top of the backrest of the bench  140 . The solar panels are attached to the NiCad batteries through copper wires. The copper wires pass from the solar panels, through holes within the backrest, through holes in the back of the enclosure, to the location of the batteries within the enclosure. Typically, the batteries are located in the upper portion of the enclosure. An automatic switch prevents charging of the batteries when they have reached a full charge. A Zener diode is present to prevent a reverse current from damaging the solar panels.  
         [0026]    Electrical failure occurs when the circuitry overheats causing melting; or if the circuitry drops to too low a temperature, then the circuitry can become brittle and crack. There are twp main forms of heat transfer, conduction and convection. The enclosure is formed out of plastic, typically ABS plastic or fiberglass. Plastic has a low conductance, thus heat or cold from the metal portions of the bench will have a low conductance to the radio circuitry inside the enclosure. The enclosure is also designed to be air and watertight. Keeping moving air out, reduces hot or cold convective elements from affecting the radio circuitry. The air tightness also prevents moisture from entering the enclosure. Moisture causes shorts, in addition to frost damage. The circuitry can also be vacuum-sealed in an impermeable plastic wrap.  
         [0027]    The speaker is constructed to resist cracking, and for superior sound quality. Polypropylene is a type of plastic that provides good acoustical performance while also having good weather resistance. Also, a weather resistant epoxy resin such as EPOXY SYSTEMS product #401 urethane coating can be used to adhere the polypropylene to the frame. The speaker is mounted within the enclosure by screws or is adhesively attached by a weather resistant epoxy. The speaker  310  is typically located on the lower portion of the enclosure as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the speaker has an attachable front grill  320 . The front grill is designed to fit shapely with the frontal area of the enclosure. The front grill also contains a contoured portion on the backside of the grill where the front portion of the speaker  310  may rest upon. The contoured portion prevents movement of the speaker in the vertical and horizontal direction. The perimeter  330  of the front grill is lined with rubber so that a watertight seal is formed. The contoured portion of the grill that holds the speaker also has a rubber watertight seal.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment, where flat panel speakers  420  are used. Unlike conventional speakers which use a magnet to vibrate a membrane as a whole, flat panel speakers use an electronic “exciter”  410  on the back of a speaker material. The exciter sends electronic “taps” along the surface of the speaker material. By changing and regulating each electronic tap, the exciter creates different volumes and frequencies that vibrate through the panel. The resulting vibrations are heard as sound.  
         [0030]    The flat panel speakers are integrated with the front cover  400  of the enclosure. The outer perimeter  440  of the front cover is composed of plastic, while the inner area  450  is a weather resistant material such as plastic or polypropylene. A side  460  of the cover is hingedly affixed to a side of the enclosure. An exciter  410  is attached to the center of the cover. In operation, the exciter receives a signal and reproduces the signal by tapping the inner area of the cover.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment, where the exciter  510  is attached to the backrest portion  520  of the bench  500 . The backrest  520  is typically constructed of iron, steel, aluminum, or wood. The exciter  510  taps along the surface of the backrest  520  to produce sound. Multiple exciters may be used to improve sound quality. When multiple exciters are used with wood, the differences in material density should be mapped to ensure proper placement. Since different densities produce different sounds or tonal qualities, each exciter should be placed to account for the changes. With proper placement of the exciters, an accurate reproduction of the input signal will be achieved.  
         [0032]    For example, in FIG. 6, the bench backrest is constructed of wood. The right portion of the upper bar has a higher density, lower resonance than the left portion. To compensate, two exciters  611 ,  612  are place on the right side while only one exciter  613 , is placed on the left. The result is balanced stereo sound.  
         [0033]    Alternatively, the multiple exciters  711 ,  712 ,  713 ,  714  can be placed in uniform positions, such as the shape of a square as shown in FIG. 7A. To achieve an accurate signal reproduction, each exciter is calibrated to compensate for the variations in density.  
         [0034]    For example, in FIG. 7B, a wooden knot  740 , lies close to an emitter  724 . The wooden knot is higher in density than the rest of the backrest, and the higher density causes a lower resonance response for low frequency is vibrations. The wooden knot does not effect higher frequency vibrations. Thus, lower frequency sounds, such as bass, will be difficult to produce at the knot&#39;s location.  
         [0035]    The high frequency signals of the four exciters are calibrated to interact with each other based upon the shape of the square that they form. This produces a uniform sound for high frequencies. However, the low frequency signals are calibrated to be produced mainly by three exciters  721 ,  722 ,  723 , which are not in close proximity to the high-density wood knot  740 . This produces a uniform sound for lower frequencies.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7C, illustrates another embodiment, where the exciters are calibrated to produce concentrated volume nodes around the wooden knot  740 . Concentrated volume nodes can be produced where peak values of intersecting sound waves  771 ,  772 ,  773 ,  774  meet. The emitters  761 ,  762 ,  763 ,  764  are designed to produce signals such that their sound waves will have intersecting peak values at predetermined locations. The distribution of several volume nodes around the wooden knot  740  will compensate for the low resonance area, and produce an even sound reproduction.  
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the musical bench contains an integrated sensor chip that is integrated with the UNIT. The sensor chip is used to detect when someone is sitting on the bench. Attached to the sensor chip is a sensor device.  
         [0038]    One type of sensor device is an infrared sensor. The infrared sensor has an infrared emitter and receiver. FIG. 8 illustrates how the emitter  810  and receiver  815  are placed on the side of each enclosure  820 ,  830 , facing each other. The emitter  810  emits an infrared beam so the receiver  815  can receive the beam. When a user sits on the bench  100 , he causes the beam stream to break. When the receiver no longer receives the beam, it causes a trigger in the sensor ship. This trigger turns on the radio.  
         [0039]    In another embodiment, the UNIT has a receiver for receiving a microchip containing prerecorded sounds. The prerecorded sounds can consist of music, but a typical application would be a recorded nursery rhyme. When integrated with the sensor embodiment, a child can merely sit on the bench and hear a prerecorded nursery rhyme. The UNIT also contains a memory that can bookmark a position on the nursery rhyme. If the play of a nursery rhyme ends before it is finished, the memory will save the position and will start from that saved position when activated again.  
         [0040]    In another embodiment, the UNIT has microphone and RCA inputs so that an external signal can be input from an external source such as a tape recorder or CD player. An auxiliary switch on the UNIT is used to switch to an auxiliary mode. In auxiliary mode, the external input signal is amplified and played through the UNIT&#39;s amplifier and speakers. There is also an adapter so that a signal from a cell phone can be played on the UNIT&#39;s speakers.  
         [0041]    In another embodiment, a radio transmitter/receiver (TR) is integrated with the UNIT. The UNIT can receive external data flow from a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or from a computer through a connector means such as a serial, parallel, or T-based connector. The TR is compliant with mobile phone protocols, thus a user can connect a computer to the TR and connect to the Internet through a dial-up process.  
         [0042]    In another embodiment the UNIT acts as a wireless intercom. The TR can be configured to communicate with a local intercom system. The intercom system is enabled to receive radio signals produced by the TR, and the intercom system also sends radio signals that are received by the TR. Both the UNIT and intercom system, are set to receive when they are not transmitting. The UNIT is set to transmit either by the depression of an on button, or may have a voice activated on switch.  
         [0043]    Although the invention is described herein with reference to the preferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the Claims included below.