Retractable Rotating Speaker for Moisture Protection and Sound Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional speakers installed near water sources, such as spas and pools, face challenges with sound quality due to fixed directional projection and lack of protection from moisture and elements, as they are often placed far from the water to avoid interaction with water and chemicals, compromising their functionality and durability.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable and retractable speaker system with a speaker member that can move between a retracted and extended position, allowing it to be protected from moisture and elements when not in use, and can be adjusted to any desired angle for optimal sound projection, featuring a housing with a middle and outer housing that allows for rotational orientation and axial translation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If speakers are installed far from water sources to avoid interaction, then reliability is improved, but sound quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from moistureVSAvoidsound quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The speaker system employs a retractable speaker member that can dynamically change its position between retracted and extended states. When retracted, the speaker is protected inside the housing; when extended, the speaker projects outward for optimal sound projection near water sources. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between protection and sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The speaker system is divided into separate functional components: a fixed housing that provides protection and an movable speaker member that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows the protective housing to remain stationary while the speaker element moves to optimal positions, resolving the conflict between reliability and sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If speaker rotation is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational adjustmentVSAvoidsound projection direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The middle housing is made rotatable relative to the outer housing, allowing the speaker member to dynamically adjust its rotational orientation. This dynamic rotation capability enables the speaker to adapt to different sound projection directions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, as the rotation is integrated into the housing structure itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The speaker system provides improved sound quality and protection from environmental factors by allowing the speaker to be safely stored and adjusted for optimal sound projection, enhancing user experience and durability.

Implementation Method 1

The apparatus further includes a biasing mechanism that moves at least in part the speaker member from the retracted position to the extended position independent of the rotational orientation of the speaker member.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The speaker member moves between the retracted position and the extended position regardless of the rotational orientation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS20080095395A1speaker
Publication Date: 2008.04.24 THE POLY PLANAR GROUP
  • US20080095395A1 patent drawing
  • US20080095395A1 patent drawing
  • US20080095395A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A speaker apparatus comprising a housing and a speaker member. The speaker member is configured to rotate relative to the housing and translate relative to the housing so as to move between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the speaker member axially translates independent of the rotational orientation of the speaker member relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the speaker member rotates through substantially 360 degrees relative to the housing.