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 Title: |
US5784473:
Sound system
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Ferren, Bran; East Hampton, NY
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| Assignee: |
Disney Enterprises, Inc., Burbank, CA
other patents from DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. (739741) (approx. 31)
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| Published / Filed: |
1998-07-21
/ 1996-02-23
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| Application Number: |
US1996000609769
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63J 5/00;
H04R 5/02;
A63G 7/00;
A63J 25/00;
Core:
A63J 99/00;
IPC-7:
H04B 1/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
A63J5/00; H04R5/02; K63G7/00; K63J25/00;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
381/086;
181/155;
181/156;
181/191;
381/160;
381/300;
381/332;
381/337;
Original:
381/086;
381/024;
381/090;
381/155;
381/160;
181/155;
181/156;
181/191;
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| Field of Search: |
381/024,77,86,90,155,160
181/155,156,191
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| Priority Number: |
| 1996-02-23 |
US1996000609769 |
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| Abstract: |
This disclosure relates to a sound system that provides high quality sound notwithstanding extreme background noise. Preferably implemented in amusement ride vehicles, such as roller coasters, the present sound system mounts left and right channel sets of speakers in each seat back, one on each side of a center section that supports the passenger's back. These speakers are mounted in a wing-back relationship, such that they direct their sound away from one another and toward laterally extending arms that extend forward from the seat back, outside of the speakers. These arms mount an inward-facing spherical reflector, which reflects and disperses sound toward a range of positions associated with height variance of the passenger. Using this arrangement, all passengers will experience the same high quality sound, whatever the passenger's height. The left and right channels speakers are each coaxially-mounted, two-way speakers. Of these, the larger (rear) bass speakers share a common speaker enclosure formed within the seat back, and both of the left and right channels are driven in common for bass. A passive driver cone is mounted at the top of the speaker enclosure, to optimize bass production and move air in the vicinity of the passenger's neck, to further enhance sound. Using the preferred device, high quality sound may be provided to each passenger of the vehicle, including sophisticated special effects and music, all of which beneficially contribute to the overall ride experience.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Pretty, Schroeder & Poplawski ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Kuntz, Curtis A.; Nguyen, Duc
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| Maintenance Status: |
E3 Expired Check current status
CC Certificate of Correction issued
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 24 claims |
I claim:
1. A sound system that provides sound to a human listener, wherein the human listener is of unknown dimensions, such that the position of the listener's ears may vary within a range of positions, comprising:
- two speakers;
- a sound reflector corresponding to each of the listener's ears, each sound reflector
- having a convex surface that reflects sound originating at a corresponding one of the speakers, and diverges that sound upon reflection, and
- being positioned relative to the corresponding ear and the corresponding one of the speakers, such that reflected sound is directed toward the range of positions;
- a back rest that supports the listener; and
- a support mechanism for the sound reflectors that positions them proximate to the corresponding one of the listener's ears, to thereby reflect sound toward the listener's ears, the support mechanism includes two arms that extend forward from the back rest on, respectively, opposing sides of the listener's head, each arm mounting one of the sound reflectors to face generally inward, toward the listener's head.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 6 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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