IP Library Granted Patent US 7,237,648
Granted Patent B2
US 7,237,648 · App. 10/753,760 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Surround sound positioning tower system and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,237,648
App. No.
10/753,760
Granted
Jul 3, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surround sound system and method involving a surround sound tower ( 10 ) having planar speakers ( 11 b ); a base plate ( 20 ); and a structure for positioning ( 30 ) the surround sound tower on the base plate ( 20 ), the surround sound tower ( 10 ) being mounted on, and normal to, the positioning structure ( 30 ) for customizing sound direction and constructive interference patterns by interactively positioning the sound tower ( 10 ) and by modular usage of both sub-woofers ( 12 a ) and tweeters ( 13 a ), economizing floor space, especially in a home theater environment, the positioning structure ( 30 ) having a structure for indicating an angular rotation ( 40 ) of the surround sound tower ( 10 ) relative to the base plate ( 20 ) and a structure for facilitating rotation ( 50 ) of the angular rotation indicating structure ( 40 ).

Claims (63)

1. A surround sound system, comprising:

a surround sound tower being vertically disposed and having at least one planar speaker, wherein the at least one planar speaker can be rotated in an open position or closed position;

a base plate being horizontally disposed; and

means for angular positioning of the surround sound tower on the base plate, the surround sound tower being mounted on, and normal to, the angularly positioning means, said angular positioning means having means for indicating an angular position of the surround sound tower relative to the base plate; and means for facilitating rotation of the angular position indicating means.

2. A system, as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the angular position indicating means comprises a pointer plate having a visible marking,

wherein the facilitating means comprises a plurality of ball bearings, and

wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of angular indications.

3. A system, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the surround sound tower further comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a center channel speaker, a sub-woofer module, and a tweeter module.

4. A system, as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the sub-woofer module comprises a sub-woofer, and

wherein the tweeter module comprises a tweeter.

5. A system, as recited in claim 4 ,

wherein the sub-woofer module further comprises a nestable detachable permeable sub-woofer housing disposed around the sub-woofer, and

wherein the tweeter module further comprises a detachable permeable tweeter housing disposed around the tweeter.

6. A system, as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a binding post disposed at a rear surface of the tower for electronically coupling the tower to the angular positioning means.

7. A system, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a light pipe disposed on a rear side of the surround sound tower.

8. A system, as recited in claim 7 , wherein the light pipe comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting essentially of indicating a sonic intensity and providing illumination.

9. A surround sound system, comprising:

a surround sound tower being vertically disposed and having at least one planar speaker, wherein the at least one planar speaker can be rotated in an open position or closed position;

a base plate being horizontally disposed; and

means for angular positioning of the surround sound tower on the base plate, the surround sound tower being mounted on, and normal to, the angular positioning means,

said angular positioning means having

means for indicating an angular position of the surround sound tower relative to the base plate; and

means for facilitating rotation of the angular position indicating means, and

wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of angular indications

wherein the surround sound tower further comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a center channel speaker, a sub-woofer module, and a tweeter module;

a binding post disposed at a rear surface of the tower for electronically coupling the tower to the angular positioning means; and means for indicating a sonic intensity.

10. A surround sound method, comprising the steps of:

vertically disposing a surround sound tower having at least one planar speaker, wherein

the at least one planar speaker can be rotated in an open position or closed position;

horizontally disposing a base plate; and

angular positioning of the surround sound tower on the base plate;

mounting the surround sound tower on, and normal to, the angular position and

angularly positioning the surround sound tower in relation to the base plate using an angular positioning means, wherein the step of providing the angular positioning means includes the steps of indicating an angular position of the surround sound tower relative to the base plate, and facilitating rotation of the angular position indicating means.

11. A method, as recited in claim 10 ,

wherein the angular position indicating step includes providing a pointer plate having a visible marking,

the facilitating rotation of the angular position indicator step includes providing a plurality of ball bearings, and

horizontally disposing the base plate step includes providing a plurality of angular indications thereon formed.

12. A method, as recited in claim 10 , wherein the step of vertically disposing the surround sound tower comprises the step of further providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a center channel speaker, and a sub-woofer module, and a tweeter module.

13. A method, as recited in claim 12 ,

wherein the step of providing the sub-woofer module comprises the step of providing a sub-woofer, and

wherein the step of providing the tweeter module comprises the step of providing a tweeter.

14. A method, as recited in claim 13 ,

wherein the step of providing the sub-woofer module further comprises providing a detachable permeable sub-woofer housing disposed around the sub-woofer, and

wherein the step of providing the tweeter module further comprises providing a detachable permeable tweeter housing disposed around the tweeter.

15. A method, as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of providing a binding post disposed at a rear surface of the tower for electronically coupling the tower to the angular positioning means.

16. A method, as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a light pipe disposed on a rear side of the surround sound tower.

17. A method, as recited in claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the light pipe comprises the step of providing at least one function selected from a group consisting essentially of indicating a sonic intensity and providing illumination.

18. A method, as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a binding post disposed at a rear surface of the tower for electronically coupling the tower to the angular positioning means; and

providing a light pipe disposed on a rear side of the surround sound tower,

wherein the step of providing the angular positioning means includes the steps of indicating an angular position of the surround sound tower relative to the base plate; and

facilitating rotation of the angular position indicating means,

wherein the angular position indicating step includes providing a pointer plate having a visible marking,

the facilitating rotation of the angular position indicator step includes providing a plurality of ball bearings,

horizontally disposing the base plate step includes providing a plurality of angular indications thereon formed,

vertically disposing the surround sound tower step includes the step of further providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of a center channel speaker, and a sub-woofer module, and a tweeter module,

wherein the step of providing the sub-woofer module comprises the step of providing a sub-woofer,

wherein the step of providing the tweeter module comprises the step of providing a tweeter,

wherein the step of providing the sub-woofer module further comprises providing a detachable permeable sub-woofer housing disposed around the sub-woofer, and

wherein the step of providing the tweeter module further comprises providing a detachable permeable tweeter housing disposed around the tweeter,

wherein the step of providing the light pipe comprises the step of providing at least one function selected from a group consisting essentially of indicating a sonic intensity and providing illumination.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2006
From: MONSTER CABLE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: COMERICA BANK
Reel/Frame 018194/0771 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2004
From: LEE, NOEL; MARTIN, DEMIAN
To: MONSTER CABLE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015465/0270 →