US20050035246A1

US20050035246A1 - Remotely controllable revolving support for speaker

Info

Publication number: US20050035246A1
Application number: US10/901,606
Authority: US
Inventors: Ludlow Coleman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-28
Filing date: 2004-07-28
Publication date: 2005-02-17

Abstract

A revolving support for a speaker includes a base housing, a revolving platform, a motor plinth, and a control circuit. The revolving platform is rotatably provided on the base housing, wherein the speaker is adapted to securely rest on the revolving platform. The motor plinth is disposed in the base housing, and includes a motor operatively communicated with the revolving platform in such a manner that the motor is arranged to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing. The control circuit is electrically connected with the motor in such a manner to controllably activate the motor to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing, such that the revolving platform is adapted to turn and align the speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for delivering a maximum sound quality in the direction.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a regular application of a provisional application Ser. No. 60/490,822, filed Jul. 28, 2003 by the inventor of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a revolving support for speaker, especially to a support a direction thereof is able to be adjusted by a remote control thus helping a user easily find a sweet point for better enjoyment in stead of turning the speaker by hands which is both force-taking and inaccurate.
2. Description of Related Arts
Persons who care of enjoying sound of speakers and who have used speakers know that a direction of speaker is a very important factor in the enjoyment. As shown in FIG. 1, when there are more than one speaker 11, 12, as a common situation goes, imaginary lines respectively vertical with respect to each speaker 11, 12 would better converge at a point called as “sweetspot” 111. Persons may have such experience and knowledge of speaker that an area near around the sweetspot 111 is usually the best place for sound enjoyment. Therefore, to levelly rotate every speaker 11, 12 facing a sweetspot 111 to give audience, sometimes the user himself, a best enjoying effect become a routine task for speaker users.
For some speakers light in weight and rarely moved, the task may be trivial. The user may stand up from his seat and rotate each speaker one by one towards where he sits and then come back and have a taste if the effect turns better. Such action may be repeated several times. However for some other speakers that are as heavy as from tens up to hundreds of pounds and that frequently need to be relocated, such as the ones used on stage or for temporary performance, to rotate the speakers by hands become a very difficult, sometimes even an impossible, task.
It is noteworthy that in aforementioned adjusting, the user usually finally compromises on a make-do result because to continue is so force-taking and, at the same time, he does not have any indicator help him clearly determine whether the sweetspot 111 is really reached.
In some other situations, speakers 11, 12 may be suspended from a ceiling and out of reach of the user. Under this circumstance, the user may have three choices: to ascend with a chair to adjust the speaker to get a better effect; to look for the sweetspot 111 in the room and sit over there; or to just stay where he is and keep on listening and keeps on tolerating the bad quality of sound.
However no one choice is really satisfactory. The first one not only increases the workload of finding a sweetspot 111 but also brings risk of falling down. The second brings much problems: sometimes the sweetspot 111 may not exist at all because the imaginary lines with respect to each speaker 11, 12 do not converge at one point; and sometimes the sweetspot 111 may be preoccupied by some other things that are not easily moveable. The third may be the worst one since no one would like to tolerate poor sound effect if they can get better.
So, it will be advantageous to provide a revolving support for speaker. The support would better be remotely controllable allowing the user adjust the direction of the speaker while sits in his seat. And the support should also have a means being able to clearly indicate the direction towards which the speaker is facing. Such support will assist the user not only in finding a sweetspot but also easily rotating the speakers towards the sweetspot.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a revolving support for speaker which is able to be driven to revolve by a motor under a control of a remote control, enabling a user adjust a direction of the speaker while sitting in a seat.
Another object of the invention is to provide a revolving support for speaker which has an indicating means being able to clearly indicate the direction towards which the speaker is facing thus enabling a user easily and accurately identifies a sweetspot of more than one speaker.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a revolving support for a speaker, comprising:

- a base housing;
- a revolving platform rotatably provided on the base housing, wherein the speaker is adapted to securely rest on the revolving platform;
- a motor plinth disposed in the base housing, and comprises a motor, having a driving shaft extended therefrom, operatively communicated with the revolving platform in such a manner that the motor is arranged to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing; and
- a control circuit electrically connected with the motor in such a manner to controllably activate the motor to drive the revolving platform rotating with respect to the base housing, such that the revolving platform is adapted to turn and align the speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for delivering a maximum sound quality in the optimal orientation.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagrams illustrating that conventional speakers are utilized in an ordinary domestic environment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a revolving support for a speaker which is utilized in an ordinary domestic environment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the revolving support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the revolving support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an alternative mode of the revolving support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the revolving support according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, two speakers 11, 12 rotatably and respectively supported by two remotely controllable revolving supports 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the two speakers 11, 12 are placed apart from each other at a certain distance in front of a user. Each speaker 11, 12 is positioned above the respective revolving support 20 which comprises a base housing 21 securely standing on a ground surface, and a revolving platform 23 rotatably supported on the base housing 21 in such a manner that it is adapted to rotate with respect to the base housing 21 for delivering sound to a sweetspot of the two speakers 11, 12. Moreover, the revolving support 20 further comprises a remote control 40 which is arranged to generate a remote control signal, such as an infrared control signal, and a remote sensor, such as an infrared sensor 22, installed in a side wall of the base housing 21 for sensing and receiving the infrared control signal from the remote control 40.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a perspective view of the base housing 21 and a side view of the revolving platform 23 detached from the base housing 21 respectively. The base housing 21, which is embodied as a speaker stand, has a top board 211 having a central opening 213 and a rotating groove 212 formed thereon. The revolving platform 23 has a central recess 231, which is square in shape, indently formed on a bottom side thereof, and a rim holder 232. A plurality of bearing balls 233 are rollably hold in respective hollows defined in the rim holder 232 and substantially aligned with the rotating groove 212, so that when the revolving platform 23 is place on the top board 211, the bearing balls 233 is received in the rotating groove 212, which is circular in shape
As a result, the revolving platform 23 is capable of rotating with respect to the base housing 21 by rotation of the bearing balls 233, which are substantially guided by the rotating groove 212.
Note that the provision of the rim holder 232, the bearing balls 233 and the rotating groove 212 is to allay a friction between the revolving platform 23 and the top board, and since it is an ordinary art known by persons in the field of mechanical and not the subject matter of the invention, it will not be described herein in detail.
Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a sectional side view of the revolving support 20 is shown. On a bottom of the base housing 21, a motor plinth 26 is securely attached, on which a motor 24 is installed. The motor 24 has a driving shaft 241 securely engaging with a transmission shaft 25 which has a top connecting portion having a corresponding square cross section to drive the transmission shaft 25 to rotate. The top connecting portion of the transmission shaft 25 extends upright through the central opening 213 and is received by the square recess 231 in such a manner that when the transmission shaft 25 rotates, the revolving platform 23 will be driven to rotate accordingly. In the shown embodiment, both the recess 231 and the cross section of the transmission shaft 25 are square. They can be any other polygamy as long as they can firmly engage with each other and when the transmission shaft 25 rotates, the revolving table 23 can be driven thereby without trembling.
According to the preferred embodiment, the top board 211 forms as a top ceiling of the base housing such that the base housing 21 forms an enclosed structure to sealingly receive the motor plinth 26 therein.
The infrared sensor 22 is electrically connected to a control circuit 27 which is able to process the control signal received and sent by the infrared sensor 22. The control circuit 27 is electrically connected to the motor 24 to control the motor 24 to rotate according to the control signal. A power supply unit 28 having a power supply cable 281 accessible to a wall socket is provided to supply electric power for the sensor 22, the control circuit 27, and the motor 24.
According to the preferred embodiment, each of the revolving supports 20 further comprises means 30 for indicating a direction towards which the speaker is acing. When the user press keys of the remote control to adjust the direction of the speaker 11, 12, the indicating means 30 is able to sent out a visible laser beam 32 from a laser source 31 thereof. The indicating means 30 can be attached on each of the speakers 11, 12 in an upright plane passing a centre of the speaker 11, 12 and vertical to the speaker 11, 12. The visible laser beam 31 sent out by the indicating means 30 is vertical to the speaker 11, 12. Each indicating means 30 is electrically connected to the control circuit 27 by a power cable 33 for power supply. When the user rotate the revolving platform 23, the speaker 11, 12 supported thereon rotates accordingly, and the visible laser beam 31, which is in the upright plane passing the centre of the speaker 11, 12 and vertical to the speaker 11, 12, will be able to accurately indicate what direction the speaker 11, 12 is facing. Therefore, when the user has more than one speakers 11, 12 and needs to locate a sweetspot around where he sits, he can rotate the revolving table 23 one by one, looking the visible laser beams 32 until they converge at a point near where he sits. So, with the invention, the user is able to easily and accurately find a sweetspot of more than one speakers 11, 12. After the user stops adjusting, the control circuit 27 turns off the laser source 31.
According to the preferred embodiment, the indicating means 30 is preferably embodied as a laser beam pointer provided on the base housing and electrically connected with the control circuit 27 in such a manner that it is controllably activated by the remote control 40 by the user of the present invention.
It must be mentioned here that since the laser may hurt human's eyes, all products employ the indicating means 30 must warn users avoid directly watching the laser source 31 thereof.
Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of the drawings, an alternative mode of the revolving speaker 20 according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. According to the alternative mode, the base housing 21, which is embodied as a ceiling mount, is able to be securely attached on a ceiling with a plurality of expansion bolts 214. A transmission shaft 25′ is supported by two bearings 291, 291′ respectively supported on the central opening 213 of the top board 211 and a central opening 216 of a middle board 215 firmly fixed in the base 21. The transmission shaft 25′ is able to be driven to rotate by the motor 24.
Moreover, according to the alternative mode, the revolving platform 23 is embodied as a revolving rack 23′ which is securely fixed to a free end of the transmission shaft 25′ with a rivet nut 251′ in such a manner that when the transmission shaft 25′ is driven to rotate by the motor 24, the revolving rack 23′ will rotate accordingly with respect to the base housing 21. In other words, the speaker 11, 12 is able to be detachably and suspendedly mounted to the revolving rack 23′ by means of an attachment means installed on a top thereof. Thus, the speaker 20 is suspended down from the revolving support 20 of the invention. Since the attachment means is known art and not the subject matter of the invention, it will not be described in detail herein.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A revolving support for a speaker, comprising:

a base housing;

a revolving platform rotatably supported on said base housing for supporting said speaker on said revolving platform;

a motor plinth disposed in said base housing, and comprises a motor, having a driving shaft extended therefrom, operatively communicated with said revolving platform in such a manner that said motor is arranged to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing; and

a control circuit electrically connected with said motor in such a manner to controllably activate said motor to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing, such that said revolving platform is adapted to turn and align said speaker to a predetermined optimal orientation for delivering a maximum sound quality in said optimal orientation.

2. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a speaker stand, further comprises a top board having a rotating groove peripherally formed thereon, and said revolving platform further comprises a plurality of bearing balls rotatably provided on a bottom side thereof and substantially align with said rotating groove, in such a manner that said bearing balls are received in said rotating groove so that said revolving platform is capable of rotating with respect to said base housing by rotation of said bearing balls, which are substantially guided by said rotating groove.

3. The revolving support, as recited in claim 2, wherein said revolving platform further has a rim holder peripherally formed on bottom side thereof and substantially aligned with said rotating groove, wherein said bearing balls are rotatably held by said rim holder to rotatably slide along said rotating groove so as to guide said revolving platform rotating on said base housing.

4. The revolving support, as recited in claim 3, wherein said revolving platform further has a central recess indently formed on a bottom side thereof, wherein said motor plinth further comprises a transmission shaft, which is non-circular in shape, and has a top portion rotatably penetrating said top board to connect with said central recess of said revolving platform, such that when said motor is activated, said driving shaft is adapted to drive said transmission shaft to rotate, so as to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

5. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote control adapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by said remote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive said transmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

6. The revolving support, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote control adapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by said remote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive said transmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

7. The revolving support, as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for indicating said optimal orientation of said speaker, wherein said indicating means comprises a laser beam pointer provided on the base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit so as to controllably generate a laser beam for indicating an orientation of said speaker.

8. The revolving support, as recited in claim 6, further comprising means for indicating said optimal orientation of said speaker, wherein said indicating means comprises a laser beam pointer provided on the base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit so as to controllably generate a laser beam for indicating an orientation of said speaker.

9. The revolving support, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.

10. The revolving support, as recited in claim 5, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.

11. The revolving support, as recited in claim 7, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.

12. An adjustable speaker system, comprising:

at least a speaker adapted for delivering sound therefrom; and

a base housing;

13. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a speaker stand, further comprises a top board having a rotating groove peripherally formed thereon, and said revolving platform further comprises a plurality of bearing balls rotatably provided on a bottom side thereof and substantially align with said rotating groove, in such a manner that said bearing balls are received in said rotating groove so that said revolving platform is capable of rotating with respect to said base housing by rotation of said bearing balls, which are substantially guided by said rotating groove.

14. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 13, wherein said revolving platform further has a rim holder peripherally formed on bottom side thereof and substantially aligned with said rotating groove, wherein said bearing balls are rotatably held by said rim holder to rotatably slide along said rotating groove so as to guide said revolving platform rotating on said base housing.

15. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 14, wherein said revolving platform further has a central recess indently formed on a bottom side thereof, wherein said motor plinth further comprises a transmission shaft, which is non-circular in shape, and has a top portion rotatably penetrating said top board to connect with said central recess of said revolving platform, such that when said motor is activated, said driving shaft is adapted to drive said transmission shaft to rotate, so as to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

16. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 12, further comprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote control adapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by said remote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive said transmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

17. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 15, further comprising a remote sensor provided on said base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit, and a remote control adapted to generate a remote control signal which is received by said remote sensor for controllably activating said motor to drive said transmission shaft rotating to drive said revolving platform rotating with respect to said base housing.

18. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 17, further comprising means for indicating said optimal orientation of said speaker, wherein said indicating means comprises a laser beam pointer provided on the base housing and electrically connected with said control circuit so as to controllably generate a laser beam for indicating an orientation of said speaker.

19. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 12, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.

20. The adjustable speaker system, as recited in claim 16, wherein said base housing, which is embodied as a ceiling mount adapted for mounting on a ceiling, is supported in an upright manner on said ceiling, and said revolving platform is a revolving rack rotatably supported by said base housing, and adapted for detachably and hangingly mounting said speaker thereon, so as to rotatably support said speaker in a suspended manner for locating said optimal orientation.