Patent No. US11407362 (titled "Sound Bar For Mounting On A Recreational Land Vehicle Or Watercraft") was filed by Southern Audio Services Inc on Apr 13, 2021.
’362 is related to the field of sound reproduction, specifically sound bars designed for use in recreational vehicles and watercraft. These environments present unique challenges, including exposure to dust, water, and significant mechanical stress due to rough terrain or choppy water. Existing sound bars often lack the durability and adjustable directionality needed for optimal performance in these conditions.
The underlying idea behind ’362 is to create a robust and adaptable sound bar that can withstand the harsh conditions of recreational vehicle and marine environments while providing high-quality, directional audio. This is achieved by integrating bass speakers at opposing ends of a sealed housing and using adjustable mounting assemblies that allow the entire sound bar to be rotated for optimal sound projection.
The claims of ’362 focus on a sound bar featuring an elongated housing with mid-range and tweeter speakers in the middle section, oriented to project sound outward. Crucially, the housing also contains bass speakers at each end , projecting sound along the longitudinal axis. The sound bar is secured by L-shaped mounting members that allow rotation around the central axis, enabling directional sound adjustment.
In practice, the sound bar's design addresses the problem of sound quality degradation in open-air environments with competing noises. The end-mounted bass speakers provide a strong low-frequency response, while the rotatable mounting allows users to direct the sound towards the listening area, compensating for environmental factors. The sealed housing protects the internal components from dust and water damage, ensuring reliable operation in harsh conditions.
The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the combination of end-mounted bass speakers, rotatable mounting, and environmental protection. Prior sound bars often lacked the ability to direct sound effectively or were not sufficiently ruggedized for recreational vehicle use. By integrating these features, ’362 provides a more durable and versatile audio solution for challenging outdoor environments, improving the listening experience in recreational settings. The grill design also contributes to sound emission while providing structural support for the mounting assembly.
In the late 2010s when ’362 was filed, sound systems for recreational vehicles often faced challenges related to durability, weather resistance, and sound projection in open environments. At a time when achieving adjustable sound directionality was typically implemented using mechanical adjustments, systems commonly relied on wired connections for control rather than wireless interfaces due to power constraints and reliability concerns in harsh conditions. Hardware or software constraints made integrating lighting features without compromising dustproof and watertight integrity non-trivial.
The examiner approved the application because the prior art does not disclose an elongated speaker housing with woofers at the end of the housing, along with L-shaped connection means connected at the ends to enable the housing to be rotatable in multiple directions. While some references disclose elongated speaker enclosures or speakers at the ends of an enclosure, the specific limitations of L-shaped holders for enabling rotation are missing. The examiner found no motivation to combine the prior art to achieve the claimed limitations.
This patent contains 10 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to a sound bar for attachment to a recreational vehicle or watercraft, detailing its housing, speaker arrangement, and mounting assemblies. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the speaker arrays, control module, remote control functionality, and power source of the sound bar.
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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