IP Library Granted Patent US 9,807,484
Granted Patent B2
US 9,807,484 · App. 14/873,730 · Granted Oct 31, 2017

Loudspeaker system

Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin (Baltimore, MD); Matthew Lyons (York, PA); Stuart W. Lumsden (Ruxton, MD); Michael DiTullo (Encinitas, CA)
Assignee: SOUND UNITED, LLC
H04R1/026G06F3/162H04R2201/028H04R2420/07H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,807,484
App. No.
14/873,730
Granted
Oct 31, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A loudspeaker system and method of utilizing and/or installing thereof. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a loudspeaker system that may be conveniently integrated with a power distribution network of a premises.

Claims (47)

1. A loudspeaker device comprising:

an enclosure configured to attach to a front side of a junction box;

an electrical outlet adapted to receive an electrical plug of a device external to the loudspeaker device;

first power circuitry that connects electrical power from the junction box to the electrical outlet;

communication circuitry operable to receive an audio signal from an audio source external to the loudspeaker device;

audio circuitry operable to generate an audio output based on the received audio signal; and

second power circuitry operable to receive electrical power from the junction box and provide electrical power to at least the communication circuitry and the audio circuitry.

2. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the first power circuitry comprises an electrical wire protruding from a back side of the enclosure.

3. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the first power circuitry comprises an electrical plug protruding from the enclosure, and configured to plug into an electrical wall outlet.

4. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of attachment holes, each of which aligns to a respective hole on a front side of the junction box.

5. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is configured to replace a face plate of the junction box.

6. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the junction box is a junction box for the distribution of electrical power within a premises.

7. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises wireless communication circuitry.

8. The loudspeaker device of claim 7 , comprising an antenna exposed from the enclosure and positioned to be outside of a wall on which the enclosure is mounted.

9. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , comprising a manual volume control feature.

10. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , comprising a microphone within the enclosure.

11. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , comprising a motion sensor.

12. The loudspeaker device of claim 1 , comprising an environmental sensor within the enclosure and a sensor port extending through the enclosure that couples the environmental sensor to an environment outside of the enclosure.

13. A loudspeaker device comprising:

an enclosure configured to mechanically attach to a front side of an electrical junction box;

an electrical plug protruding from a back side of the enclosure and configured to plug into an electrical wall outlet at a front side of the electrical junction box;

an electrical wall outlet on the enclosure and adapted to receive an electrical plug of a device external to the loudspeaker device;

first power circuitry within the enclosure that connects the electrical plug of the loudspeaker device to the electrical outlet of the loudspeaker device;

communication circuitry within the enclosure that is operable to receive an audio signal from an audio source external to the loudspeaker device;

audio circuitry within the enclosure that is operable to generate an audio output based on the received audio signal; and

second power circuitry within the enclosure that is operable to receive electrical power from the electrical wall outlet of the electrical junction box and provide electrical power to at least the communication circuitry and the audio circuitry.

14. The loudspeaker device of claim 13 , wherein the enclosure is configured for mounting outside of a wall.

15. The loudspeaker device of claim 13 , wherein the enclosure is configured to replace a face plate of the electrical junction box.

16. A loudspeaker device comprising:

an enclosure configured to attach to a front side of a junction box;

a manual power switch accessible at a front side of the enclosure;

first power circuitry that connects an electrical power line from the junction box to the manual power switch;

communication circuitry operable to receive an audio signal from an audio source external to the loudspeaker device;

audio circuitry operable to generate an audio output based on the received audio signal; and

second power circuitry operable to receive electrical power from the junction box and provide electrical power to at least the communication circuitry and the audio circuitry.

17. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the first power circuitry comprises an electrical wire protruding from a back side of the enclosure.

18. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of attachment holes, each of which aligns to a respective hole on a front side of the junction box.

19. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the enclosure is configured to replace a face plate of the junction box.

20. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the junction box is a junction box for the distribution of electrical power within a premises.

21. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises wireless communication circuitry.

22. The loudspeaker device of claim 21 , comprising an antenna exposed from the enclosure and positioned to be outside of a wall on which the enclosure is mounted.

23. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , comprising a manual volume control feature.

24. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , comprising a microphone within the enclosure.

25. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , comprising a motion sensor.

26. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , comprising an environmental sensor within the enclosure and a sensor port extending through the enclosure that couples the environmental sensor to an environment outside of the enclosure.

27. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the manual power switch is an electrical outlet switch.

28. The loudspeaker device of claim 16 , wherein the enclosure is configured to replace a face plate of the electrical junction box.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0207) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 059988/0637 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0230) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.
Reel/Frame 060003/0212 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; B & W GROUP LTD; SOUND UNITED, LLC; B & W LOUDSPEAKERS LTD; D&M HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0278 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0230 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0207 →
NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: DEI SALES, INC.; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; B & W GROUP LTD
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054300/0611 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2015
From: STAROBIN, BRADLEY M.; LYONS, MATTHEW; LUMSDEN, STUART W.; DITULLO, MICHAEL
To: SOUND UNITED, LLC
Reel/Frame 036717/0560 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170099534A1 · Apr 6, 2017