IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,178,475
Granted Patent B2
US 11,178,475 · App. 16/237,254 · Granted Nov 16, 2021

Speaker and shower

Inventors: Kenneth Scott Hanna (Bellingham, WA); Michael James Soetaert (Sheboygan, WI); Keith Scott Ruh (Elkhart Lake, WI); William Clement Kuru (Plymouth, WI); Gregory de Swarte (Sheboygan, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
H04R1/028B05B1/16B05B1/18B05B1/185E03C1/0408F21V33/004F21V33/0056B05B7/0416H04R1/021H04R1/026H04R2201/021H04R2201/025H04R2201/029H04R2420/07H04R2430/01H04R2499/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,178,475
App. No.
16/237,254
Granted
Nov 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly may include a speaker supportable for movement relative to a reference external to the speaker and a speaker housing supporting speaker components operable to produce an audio output. A sensor is operable to sense a direction of movement of the speaker during movement of the speaker relative to the reference. Control components are operable to control the speaker components based on the direction of movement of the speaker relative to the reference. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a first direction relative to the reference, an operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to increase or advance during movement in the first direction. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a second direction relative to the reference different from the first direction, the operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to decrease or retreat during movement in the second direction.

Claims (33)

1. An assembly comprising:

a speaker including

a speaker housing,

speaker components supported in the speaker housing and operable to produce an audio output,

a rechargeable power source operable to power the speaker components,

a speaker electrical contact, and

a speaker electrical circuit electrically connected between the speaker electrical contact and the rechargeable power source; and

a stand operable to support the speaker, the stand including

a stand housing, and

a stand electrical circuit connectable to an external power source, and

a stand electrical contact electrically connected to the stand electrical circuit;

wherein, when the speaker is supported on the stand, the speaker electrical contact directly physically engages the stand electrical contact, wherein, when power is supplied to the stand electrical circuit, current is suppliable through the stand electrical contact directly to the speaker electrical contact to charge the rechargeable power source, and wherein, while the speaker is supported on the stand, the speaker components are operable to produce the audio output.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the speaker further includes a second speaker electrical contact electrically connected to the speaker electrical circuit, wherein the stand further includes a second stand electrical contact electrically connected to the stand electrical circuit, and wherein the assembly further comprises a power cord removably, selectively and alternatively directly physically engageable to the stand electrical contact to electrically connect the external power source to the stand electrical circuit and to the speaker electrical contact to electrically connect the external power source to the speaker electrical circuit to charge the rechargeable power source.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the speaker defines a speaker port, the second speaker electrical contact being provided by the speaker port, and wherein the assembly further comprises a cover engageable with the speaker housing to selectively cover and uncover the speaker port, the speaker port being uncovered to connect with the power cord.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the speaker includes a magnet operable to releasably retain the speaker on a support.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when supported for charging, the speaker is supported by the stand in an orientation for use as a speaker.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the stand defines a recess for receiving a portion of the speaker in the orientation.

7. An assembly comprising:

a speaker including

a speaker housing,

speaker components supported in the speaker housing and operable to produce an audio output,

a rechargeable power source operable to power the speaker components,

a speaker electrical contact, and

a speaker electrical circuit electrically connected between the speaker electrical contact and the rechargeable power source; and

a stand operable to support the speaker, the stand including

a stand housing,

a stand electrical circuit electrically connectable to an external power source, and

a stand electrical contact electrically connected to the stand electrical circuit;

wherein, when the speaker is supported on the stand, the speaker electrical contact directly physically engages the stand electrical contact, and wherein, when power is supplied to the stand electrical circuit, current is suppliable through the stand electrical contact directly to the speaker electrical contact to charge the rechargeable power source.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the speaker further includes a second speaker electrical contact electrically connected to the speaker electrical circuit, wherein the stand further includes a second stand electrical contact electrically connected to a stand electrical circuit, and wherein the assembly further comprises a power cord removably, selectively and alternatively directly physically engageable to the stand electrical contact to electrically connect the external power source to the stand electrical circuit and to the speaker electrical contact to electrically connect the external power source to the speaker electrical circuit to charge the rechargeable power source.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the speaker defines a speaker port, the second speaker electrical contact being provided by the speaker port, and wherein the assembly further comprises a cover engageable with the speaker housing to selectively cover and uncover the speaker port, the speaker port being uncovered to connect with the power cord.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein, when supported for charging, the speaker is supported by the stand in an orientation for use as a speaker.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the stand defines a recess for receiving a portion of the speaker in the orientation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2020
From: HANNA, KENNETH SCOTT; SOETAERT, MICHAEL JAMES; RUH, KEITH SCOTT; KURU, WILLIAM CLEMENT; DE SWARTE, GREGORY
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 053836/0387 →
Continuity (13)
Division 16002397 · Jun 7, 2018
Continuation 14606831 · Jan 27, 2015
Continuation In Part 13605587 · Sep 6, 2012
Continuation In Part 14470761 · Aug 27, 2014
Continuation In Part 13605587 · Sep 6, 2012
Continuation In Part 14200540 · Mar 7, 2014
Continuation 13605587 · Sep 6, 2012
Provisional Application 61932020 · Jan 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61573448 · Sep 6, 2011
Provisional Application 61631912 · Jan 13, 2012
Provisional Application 61637009 · Apr 23, 2012
Provisional Application 61871054 · Aug 28, 2013
Related Publication 20190141425A1 · May 9, 2019
Cited By (6)
US 1,147,249 US 12,192,691 US 12,419,472 US 12,470,855 US 12,520,404 US 12,678,367