US20070060017A1

US20070060017A1 - Combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device

Info

Publication number: US20070060017A1
Application number: US11/225,548
Authority: US
Inventors: Toby Klusmeyer; Scott Mickelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: WO2007033026A1

Abstract

A combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device includes a container for holding a beverage having a sidewall structure with an open top and an open bottom. A base assembly is connected to the container and includes a base holding a speaker isolated from the beverage adjacent the open bottom of the container and retaining a sound generating device and a source of electrical power in communication with the speaker and the sound device. The speaker converts electrical signals from the sound generating device and emits sound waves that are projected through and conducted by the sidewall structure for delivery through the open top of the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a drinking container having a base-mounted audio system. More particularly, the invention is directed to a drinking container wherein electronically amplified sound is conducted and further amplified along and through the interior surface of the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art drinking containers have been disclosed with various novelty features such as audible outputs conducted through audio transducers that are variously actuated. Such beverage containers typically are formed with a closed bottom and a base assembly which is permanently or, more practically, removably connected to the bottom so that the beverage container can be washed as desired. In some cases, the drinking container is adapted to receive different types of bases. The bases that are coupled to these containers generally house an audio system having a speaker, a sound generating device, amplification circuitry and a source of electrical power, such as a battery. Speakers in these audio systems are positioned to emit amplified sound downwardly and outwardly from the base which can restrict the effectiveness of the sound propagation from the drinking container.
It is desirable to enhance the sound volume and quality of an audio system connected to the bottom of the drinking container so that the container performs as an electronically amplified megaphone and still retains its beverage-holding capability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a dual purpose entertainment device for holding beverages and producing sound.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a drinking container with an improved audio output.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a drinking container producing sound with improved amplification.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drinking container which conducts electronically amplified sound along an interior surface of the container.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a drinking container in which a speaker is held isolated from a beverage adjacent the bottom of the container.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a drinking container in which a speaker is oriented to emit sound waves upwardly toward the top of the container.
In one aspect of the invention, a combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device includes a container for holding a beverage having a sidewall structure with an open top and an open bottom. A base assembly is connected to the container and includes a base holding a speaker isolated from the beverage adjacent the open bottom of the container, and retaining a sound generating device and a source of electrical power in communication with the speaker and the sound generating device. The speaker converts electrical signals from the sound generating device and emits sound waves so that they are projected through and conducted by the sidewall structure for delivery through the open top of the container.
The speaker is provided with a fluid-proof covering. The fluid-proof covering takes the form of a sound generating diaphragm extending across the open bottom between the container and the base. The sound generating device includes an amplifying circuit and a switch for controlling the sound generating device. The sound generating device includes any of a microphone, a sound chip, a radio receiver and an audio device mounted externally of the base assembly. The source of electrical power is preferably a battery. The base includes a printed circuit board connected to the speaker and the battery. A cover is removably connected to the base and provides holding structure for the battery. The cover includes support structure for supporting the printed circuit board within the base. The cover is formed with a portion for accessing and receiving the switch. The base is cut out to receive the portion for accessing the switch.
In another aspect of the invention, a combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device includes a container for holding a beverage having a sidewall structure with an open top and an open bottom. A base assembly is removably and sealingly connected to the open bottom of the container. The base assembly includes a speaker isolated from the beverage, a base for retaining the speaker and a printed circuit board interconnected with a battery and a sound generating device. The speaker is positioned upwardly adjacent the open bottom so that it will emit sound waves upwardly from the open top of the container, the sidewall structure providing enhanced amplification of the sound waves.
The speaker is isolated from the beverage by a fluid-proof substrate which is preferably a plastic diaphragm. The sound generating device is preferably a microphone and includes a push button switch. The base is removably attached to a cover provided with apertures for communicating with the microphone. An O-ring is positioned between the open bottom of the container and the base. The speaker extends across at least a portion of the open bottom of the container. The sidewall structure has an upwardly and outwardly flaring configuration for conducting the sound waves over a larger area.
Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the combination device in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a base assembly of the combination device;
FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the base assembly shown in FIG. 5; and
FIG. 7 is a representation of the combination device used as a megaphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments and methods of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts for all the drawings. It should be noted, however, that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices and methods, and illustrative example shown and described in this section in connection with the preferred embodiment and method. The invention according to its various aspects is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the attached claims read in view of the specification, and appropriate equivalents.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a combination drinking container and audio amplification device 10 embodying the present invention. The combination device 10 includes a drinking container 12 and a base assembly 14 which is sealingly and removably connected to a lower end of the container 12.
Drinking container 12 may have any size and shape desired but preferably has a bell-shaped sidewall structure 16 that flares outwardly and upwardly from an open cylindrical bottom 18 (FIG. 2) to an open cylindrical top 20. The sidewall structure 16 may or may not be thermally insulated depending on the need to preserve the temperature of the beverage to be held in the container 12. A handle 22 is secured to and runs substantially the length of an external length of the sidewall structure 16. The open bottom 18 of the container 12 is provided on its internal peripheral surface with a series of L-shaped retaining slots 24 (FIG. 2) to facilitate removable connection with the base assembly 14. Preferably, the container 12 and handle 22 are constructed from a rigid, durable washable material such as plastic commonly used to make reusable drinking vessels.
The base assembly 14 is comprised of a diaphragm 26, an O-ring 28, a circular speaker 30, a ring-like printed circuit board 32 with audio and electronic components, a push button switch 34, a generally cylindrical base 36, a battery 38, and a cover 40. An upper end of the base 36 is constructed with a skirt 42 having a set of protruding nibs 44 rotatably engageable with the walls of the slots 24. With this structure, the base 36 may be removably coupled to the lower end of the container 12 with the O-ring 28 interposed between the upper end of the base 36 and the open bottom 18 to provide a sealed, leak-proof connection as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. It can also be seen that the O-ring 28 surrounds the diaphragm 26 which is positioned against and functions to close the open bottom 18 so that the beverage may be held sealed in the container 12. The diaphragm 26 may be preferably fabricated from plastic or Mylar which is sound conducting. The base 36 acts as a protective housing for the audio and electronic components and further with cover 40 is configured to provide stability for supporting the container 12 on a flat surface.
It is an important feature of the invention that the speaker 30 is oriented upwardly to emit sound waves directly towards the interior of the container 12 as will be appreciated below. The peripheral edge of speaker 30 is engageable with a first annular shoulder 46 (FIG. 3) formed inside the upper end of the base 36. The speaker 30 is shown spaced slightly below the diaphragm 26 but might be located more closely adjacent thereto. The diaphragm 26 covering the speaker 30 protects the speaker 30 from any beverage in the container contacting the speaker and other electronic components in the base 36. In the preferred embodiment, the speaker 30 extends across substantially the entire open bottom 18 of the container, but it should be understood that the speaker 30 could cover only a portion of the open bottom 18 if desired. In addition, a speaker 30 with a protective sealing covering (not shown) might be used in lieu of the diaphragm 26.
The ring-like printed circuit board 32 has a center recess 48 through which the lower portion of the speaker 30 protrudes. The upper end of the circuit board 32 is positioned against a second annular shoulder 48 formed inside the base 36. A peripheral edge of the circuit board 32 is notched to receive ribs 50 formed along the inside of the base 36. The printed circuit board 32 includes a capacitor 52, an amplifier circuit 54, a microphone 56, and switch sorting pads 58 which are selectively adjustable with manually actuable push button switch 34, all of which define a sound generating device.
The cover 40 is formed with respective upstanding walls 60, 62, 64 for retaining the battery 38 and microphone 56. The cover 40 further includes an inwardly curved extension 66 having an opening 68 for receiving the switch 34. The extension 66 fits into a cut-out 69 formed on base 36. Opposite sides of the cover 40 are provided with resilient catches 70 designed to snap into holes 72 formed on the lower end of the base 36 so that the cover 40 will be retained thereon. The cover 40 is constructed with support prongs 74 which hold the printed circuit board 32 in position when the cover 40 is coupled to the base 36. Also with the cover 40 in place, the top of the battery 38 supports the lower end of the speaker 30. Access to the microphone 56 inside the base 36 is provided by apertures 76 formed in the cover 40. Wiring 78 provides electrical communication among the speaker 30, the circuit board 32 and the battery 38.
In use, beverages may be poured into and consumed from the container 12 in normal fashion. With the container 12 emptied, a user is able to utilize the product as an electronically amplified megaphone by holding the container 12 as shown in FIG. 7, and by pushing the switch 34 with one's thumb and speaking, singing or otherwise conveying sound into the apertures 76 on the base 36 so that the particular sound will be reproduced as electronically amplified sound waves emitted from the speaker 30. The sound waves because of the particular upward orientation and positioning of the speaker 30, are projected through diaphragm 26 and into the container interior and are conducted along inside surfaces of the sidewall structure 16 for delivery through the open top 20 of the container 12. The sound waves are thus further amplified and the outwardly flaring sidewall structure provides for greater sound wave distribution.
Periodically, the base 36 may be uncoupled from the container 12 so that the latter may be washed or replaced if desired. The base 36 may be accessed to change the battery 38 as necessary by disconnecting resilient catches 70 and removing cover 40.
While the preferred embodiment discussed above discloses a sound generating device as including a microphone 56, the invention contemplates other types of sound generating devices to produce sounds from the speaker 30. Other examples of sound generating devices include a pre-recorded sound chip, a radio receiver, and an audio device such as an MP3 player connected externally to the circuit board 32 through a jack formed in the base 36. In addition, rather than using a manually-actuated switch 34, it may be possible to place a wireless receiver in the base 36 which will activate sound upon receiving a signal from a remote control.
While not shown, other versions of the invention are contemplated which may allow the drinking container to be partially filled with a beverage and still operate as an electronic amplification device.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only and should not be deemed limitative on the scope of the invention set forth with the following claims.

Claims

1. A combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device comprising:

a container for holding a beverage having a sidewall structure with an open top and an open bottom, and

a base assembly connected to the container and including a base holding a speaker isolated from the beverage adjacent the bottom of the container, and retaining a sound generating device and a source of electrical power in electrical communication with the speaker and the sound generating device,

wherein the speaker converts electrical signals from the sound generating device and emits sound waves that are projected through and conducted by the sidewall structure for delivery through the open top of the container.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the speaker is provided with a fluid-proof covering.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the fluid-proof covering takes the form of a sound generating diaphragm extending the across the open bottom between the container and the base.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sound generating device includes an amplifying circuit and a switch for controlling the sound generating device.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the sound generating device includes any of a microphone, a sound chip, a radio receiver and an audio device mounted externally of the base assembly.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the source of electrical power is a battery.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the base includes a printed circuit board connected to the speaker and the battery.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein a cover is removably connected to the base and includes holding structure for the battery.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cover includes support structure for supporting the printed circuit board within the base.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cover is formed with a portion for accessing and receiving the switch.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the base is cut out to receive the portion for accessing the switch.

12. A combination drinking container and electronic audio amplification device comprising:

a container for holding a beverage having a sidewall structure with an open top and an open bottom; and

a base assembly removably and sealingly connected to the open bottom of the container, the base assembly including a speaker isolated from the beverage, a base for retaining the speaker and a printed circuit board interconnected with a battery and a sound generating device,

wherein the speaker is positioned upwardly adjacent the open bottom so that it will emit sound waves upwardly from the open top of the container, the sidewall structure providing enhanced amplification of the sound waves.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the speaker is isolated from the beverage by a fluid-proof substrate.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the substrate is a plastic diaphragm.

15. The combination of claim 12, wherein the sound generating device is a microphone.

16. The combination of claim 12, wherein the sound generating device includes a push button switch.

17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the base is removably connected to a cover provided with apertures for communicating with the microphone.

18. The combination of claim 12, wherein an O-ring is positioned between the open bottom of the container and the base.

19. A combination of claim 12, wherein the speaker extends across at least a portion of the open bottom of the container.

20. The combination of claim 12, wherein the sidewall structure has an upwardly and outwardly flaring configuration for conducting the sound waves over a larger area.