IP Library Granted Patent US 10,631,071
Granted Patent B2
US 10,631,071 · App. 15/937,587 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Cantilevered foot for electronic device

Inventors: Meiting Wu (Santa Clara, CA); Simon K. Porter (San Jose, CA); Glenn K. Trainer (San Francisco, CA); Jacob A. Pfitsch (San Carlos, CA); Rex P. Price (San Jose, CA); Samuel G. Parker (Menlo Park, CA); Ethan L. Huwe (Davis, CA); Craig M. Stanley (Campbell, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H04R1/026H04R1/403H04R9/025H04R9/06H04R1/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,631,071
App. No.
15/937,587
Granted
Apr 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to speakers and more specifically to an array speaker for distributing music uniformly across a room. A number of audio drivers can be radially distributed within a speaker housing so that an output of the drivers is distributed evenly throughout the room. In some embodiments, the exit geometry of the audio drivers can be configured to bounce off a surface supporting the array speaker to improve the distribution of music throughout the room. The array speaker can include a number of vibration isolation elements distributed within a housing of the array speaker. The vibration isolation elements can be configured reduce the strength of forces generated by a subwoofer of the array speaker.

Claims (33)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a device housing;

audio driver assemblies disposed within the device housing; and

a cantilevered foot secured to an end of the device housing and configured to support the device housing above a supporting surface, the cantilevered foot comprising:

a central wall; and

side walls integrally formed with and protruding from the central wall, the side walls being configured to attenuate vibrations generated by the audio driver assemblies by flexing away from the central wall.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central wall and side walls cooperatively define a recess and wherein air within the recess is enclosed by the central wall, the side walls and the supporting surface when the cantilevered foot supports a weight of the electronic device above the supporting surface.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the cantilevered foot defines one or more channels extending therethrough that provide a pathway for air within the recess to enter and exit the device housing through an audio exit channel configured to direct audio waves generated by the audio driver assemblies out of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the side walls are configured to form a continuous seal between the cantilevered foot and the supporting surface along a periphery of the cantilevered foot and wherein the continuous seal limits entrance and exit of air disposed within the recess to the one or more channels defined by the cantilevered foot.

5. The electronic device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the pathway extends through a cavity positioned between an upper surface of the cantilevered foot and a lower surface of the device housing.

6. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central wall is substantially planar and the side walls curve away from the central wall.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 6 , wherein when the side walls deflect radially away from the central wall a surface area of the side walls in contact with the supporting surface increases.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered foot has an axisymmetric geometry and a circular footprint configured to contact the supporting surface.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered foot further comprises an annular piece of foam that seals a gap between a periphery of the cantilevered foot and the end of the device housing.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered foot comprises an exterior layer and an interior layer, the interior layer being formed of a more rigid material than the exterior layer.

11. An audio device, comprising:

a device housing;

audio driver assemblies disposed within the device housing; and

a cantilevered foot secured to a base of the device housing and configured to support the audio device above a supporting surface, the cantilevered foot comprising:

a central wall; and

side walls integrally formed with and protruding from the central wall, the side walls cooperating with the central wall to define a recessed region.

12. The audio device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the cantilevered foot comprises hooks protruding into openings defined by the base and securing the cantilevered foot to the base.

13. The audio device as recited in claim 12 , wherein the openings define a portion of a pathway allowing air within the recessed region to enter a portion of the device housing.

14. The audio device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the portion of the device housing comprises one or more audio exit channels utilized by the audio driver assemblies.

15. An electronic device, comprising:

a device housing comprising a base;

audio driver assemblies disposed within the device housing; and

a cantilevered foot coupled to the base and having an exterior surface configured to contact a supporting surface upon which the electronic device rests, the exterior surface defining a recessed region.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 , wherein air within the recessed region is enclosed by the cantilevered foot and the supporting surface when the cantilevered foot supports a weight of the device housing above the supporting surface.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the cantilevered foot defines one or more channels extending therethrough that provide a pathway for air within the recessed region to enter and exit the device housing through an audio exit channel configured to direct audio waves generated by the audio driver assemblies out of the electronic device.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 17 , wherein the side walls are configured to create a continuous seal between the cantilevered foot and the supporting surface along a periphery of the cantilevered foot and wherein the continuous seal limits entrance and exit of air disposed within the recessed region to the one or more channels defined by the cantilevered foot.

19. The electronic device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the pathway extends through a cavity positioned between an upper surface of the cantilevered foot and a lower surface of the device housing.

20. The electronic device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the cantilevered foot further comprises an annular piece of foam that seals a gap between a periphery of the cantilevered foot and the base of the device housing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: WU, MEITING; TRAINER, GLENN K.; PFITSCH, JACOB A.; PRICE, REX P.; PARKER, SAMUEL G.; HUWE, ETHAN L.; STANLEY, CRAIG M.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 045520/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: PORTER, SIMON K.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 045520/0485 →
Continuity (16)
Continuation In Part 15613066 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613063 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613079 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613003 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613060 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613054 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation In Part 15613073 · Jun 2, 2017
Provisional Application 62622721 · Jan 26, 2018
Provisional Application 62622092 · Jan 25, 2018
Provisional Application 62507007 · May 16, 2017
Provisional Application 62399293 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62399229 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62399165 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62399288 · Sep 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62399262 · Sep 23, 2016
Related Publication 20180220213A1 · Aug 2, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,192,698 US 12,611,840