Patent · US Expired

Inflatable speaker assembly

US6367579B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
8References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2000
Grant dateApr 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R1/021
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A speaker assembly is provided including a rigid front speaker mounting element defining at least one speaker mounting opening, at least one speaker driver coupled to the at least one speaker mounting opening of the speaker mounting element, at least one flexible bladder at least partially forming the sides and rear of the enclosure and coupled to the speaker mounting element, and a valve coupled to the flexible bladder. The flexible bladder has a first wall portion and a second wall portion defining a substantially air-tight interior space therebetween and may take any desired shape when inflated. Together, the speaker mounting element and the bladder form at least one interior chamber at least partially surrounding the speaker driver. The valve, which provides a substantially air-tight seal when closed, is in fluid communication with the interior space of the flexible bladder and can be used for inflation and deflation of the bladder. The bladder is inflatable by providing either pressurized gas or expandable foam within the interior space. Alternately, the bladder may be formed as a plurality of independently inflatable cells, or may be evacuatably-formed from a material having …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.