US3090462A

US3090462A - Cabinet for sound reproducing equipment

Info

Publication number: US3090462A
Application number: US802146A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert S Huff; Horzick Joseph
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1959-03-26
Filing date: 1959-03-26
Publication date: 1963-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-21

Description

y 1, 1963 R. s. HUFF ETAL 3,090,462

CABINET FOR SOUND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed March 26, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 21,1963 R. s. HUFF ETAL CABINET FOR SOUND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed March 26, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

y 1, 1963 R. s. HUFF ETAL 3,090,462

CABINET FOR SOUND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed March 26, 1959 I5 Sheets -Sheet 3 -..9JLC.J0. i146 INVENTORS.

United States Patent 3,li%,462 CABINET FOR SOUND REPRUDUCING EQUEPMENT Robert S. Hutf, Oak Park, and Joseph Horzlck, West Chicago, llL, assignors to Motorola, inc, Chicago, ill! a corporation of liliinois Filed Mar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 892,146 3 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) This invention relates to cabinets for housing electronic equipment, and more particularly to improvements in cabinets for housing electro-acoustical devices for reproducing stereophonic sound.

Proper reproduction of stereophonic sound depends upon several factors including correctly matched equipment, correct operation and adjustment thereof and correct arrangement of the separate channel loudspeaker sys tems. The positioning of the speaker systems presents a difiicult problem since at least some of the speakers for the separate channels should preferably be spaced a substantial distance from each other and should be adjustable so that they can be positioned to provide the best stereo efiiect.

Present day one piece floor, table or portable cabinets, such as are in popular use for standard and hifidelity monophonic sound reproduction equipment, do not have the optimum physical arrangement required for correct reproduction of stereophonic sound. Since a consoletype cabinet arrangement is preferred by many people over systems housed in a multiplicity of separate cabinets, it is desirable to provide a single cabinet combination for housing stereophonic equipment constructed so as to overcome these problems.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet arrangement for housing stereophonic sound reproducing equipment.

A further object is to provide a cabinet for housing electronic equipment having sound reproducing speakers whereby enclosing means for the speakers may be easily opened and/or removed from the cabinet proper, may be operated adjacent to or at a distance therefrom, and may be received in the cabinet when the equipment is not in use to blend harmoniously therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet having enclosing means for speaker systems which are mounted to permit swinging movement from a closed integrated position to open spaced operational positions, thereby allowing a number of different relative positions of the enclosing means.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing equipment which when closed forms a structure of a size and shape to permit carrying by hand, and when opened permits spaced positioning of sound reproducing means for proper stereophonic operation.

A feature of this invention is the provision in a cabinet for housing sound reproduction equipment of separate speaker enclosures pivotally mounted on the cabinet so that they may be easily swung from a closed non-operating position to an open playing position. Electrical connection to speakers in the enclosures may be made through hinges connecting the enclosures to the main part of the cabinet.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a cabinet for stereophonic sound equipment having detachable hinge-mounted speaker enclosures with provisions for extensible electrical connections to the cabinet equipment so that they may be Operated both when attached to the cabinet and when placed at a distance clrorn the cabinet.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of ice a cabinet having a main or central portion having surfaces shaped to symmetrically receive at least two speaker enclosures thereon, the speaker enclosures being shaped to mate therewith to enclose said surfaces and to form a compact and harmonious cabinet configuration when the speakers are attached thereto in their closed position.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a cabinet having a central portion adapted to house electronic stereophonic sound reproduction equipment and low frequency speaker means and having separate enclosures for housing middle and high frequency speaker means hinge-mounted thereto. The speaker enclosures may be mounted at the opposite sides of the central portion so that when they are rotated open the front side or grilles of the speaker enclosures face outwardly in the correct spaced playing position.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a console-type floor cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same cabinet illustrating the speaker enclosures in operating position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a floor cabinet illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable cabinet with two speaker enclosures shown in opened position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the portable cabinet of FIG. 4 in carrying position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in detail the hinge structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portable cabinet illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge structure used in the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a floor cabinet illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating the mounting of the enclosures of the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cabinet of FIG. 9 illustrating speaker enclosures in their closed position;

FIG. 12 is a perspective View of still another embodiment of the invention in a floor cabinet, illustrating a detached operating position of one speaker enclosure there of;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention in a floor cabinet; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the cabinet of FIG. 13 illustrating both speaker enclosures in an attached open operating position.

A floor, table or portable cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a central or main portion adapted to house electronic equipment. Two smaller enclosures for supporting and housing electro-acoustical devices are mounted on the central portion of the cabinet. These enclosures are constructed to match the configuration of the central portion of the cabinet so that an integrated and unitary cabinet embodiment of the entire sound reproduction system is presented by the central cabinet portion and the enclosures. The enclosures may be pivotally mounted to serve as door-like portions so that various angular positions are readily obtained by merely pivoting one or both enclosures without removing them from the cabinet. They are usually symmetrically located on the central portion, and are automatically spaced from each other by the central portion when pivoted to their operating position. The hinges supporting the enclosures may provide electrical connection to the speakers therein. The hinges may include disengageable parts so that the enclosures may be removed from the cabinet. Extensible electrical connections may be provided to allow placement and operation of the enclosures at various locations spaced from the cabinet.

The cabinet central portion may itself house a low frequency speaker system, in which case the enclosures may house speaker systems designed to reproduce sound in the intermediate and high frequency ranges.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a floor cabinet having a main or central portion 24) with a compartment 21 for housing a record turntable and changer mechanism 22 located in the left half thereof. It is obvious that a tape player or other reproducing apparatus may be provided. A compartment lid 23 is hinge-mounted to the rear of compartment 21, and may be adjustably positioned by a support arm 24. An overhanging portion 25 projects forward from the top of the central portion 2h of the cabinet. In the right half of compartment 21 are mounted control knobs 26 connected to electronic equipment housed in the main portion 20 of the cabinet. Box-shaped speaker enclosures 2'7 and 28 on the left and right at the front of the cabinet fit flush with the overhanging portion 25. The configuration, styling and finish of the exposed surfaces of the enclosures when they are in this closed position provide a blended overall configuration for the cabinet.

In FIG. 2 the cabinet is illustrated with the left and

right speaker enclosures

27 and 28 in open position. Hinges 3i) and 31 provide pivotal mounting of enclosure 27 to the left front edge of the central portion 20 of the cabinet. In a similar manner, enclosure 28 is pivotally mounted by hinge 32, and another hinge not shown, to the right front edge of the central portion 20 of the cabinet. These hinges may be a standard break-apart type hinge so that either or both enclosures may be detached from the central portion 28 and placed at various points distant from the cabinet. Electrical connecting cords, not shown, may be provided to make the necessary electrical connections from the central portion 20 to the enclosures when they are removed from the central portion. The hinges are constructed of electrically conductive material and utilized to provide electrical connections to speakers in the enclosures when they are mounted on the cabinet.

Each of the speaker enclosures may accommodate one or more speakers. Thus, enclosure 27 is shown housing a speaker arrangement consisting of two high range or tweeter speakers 35 and es and a rnidrange speaker 37.

Tweeter speakers

38 and 39 and midrange speaker 40 are housed in a similar arrangement in enclosure 28.

An internal enclosure 41 is located within the central portion 26 of the cabinet. This enclosure is designed to house a low range speaker 42, commonly referred to as a woofer. The unoccupied space remaining on either side of enclosure 41 provides left and right record storage spaces 43 and 44. The left and

right enclosures

27 and 28 thus serve as cabinet doors for these compartments and for the woofer enclosure 41 when the equipment is not in use. Inasmuch as the sound from the speakers will be mufiled so that a satisfactory result will not be produced when the enclosures are in the closed position, the user will necessarily be reminded to open and position the enclosures and simultaneously expose the center woofer as required for proper stereophonie operation.

A similar floor cabinet 50 is illustrated in FIG. 3. A compartment 51 is provided in the top center thereof for housing equipment such as record playing and changing apparatus, tuners and associated controls. The lid 52 provides a means of access to the equipment housed in compartment 51. Separate enclosures 53 and 54 serve as housings for the spaced speaker systems, here shown to include

midrange speakers

55 and 57 and

tweeters

56 and 58. The center of the cabinet 50 forms an enclosure 59 for the woofer 66. The left and right enclosures 53 and 54 are dimensioned to fit within the cabinet 50 in the space remaining on either side of enclosure 59. Right enclosure 54 is shown as it appears when housed completely in cabinet St). The enclosure 53 is shown removed from the cabinet 50 to expose the compartment space 61 provided for housing this enclosure. Each enclosure is removable from the cabinet 50 by sliding it forward, and may be spaced at a distance from the cabinet 50 as is illustrated by the position of enclosure 53. Elec trical cords connect the speakers of enclosures 53 and 54 with the electronic equipment housed in the cabinet 56, as illustrated by cord 62 Accordingly, the enclosures may be placed in various locations as desired for the best stereophonic reproduction.

A portable cabinet housing equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A box shaped center portion 761 houses a record changing and playing mechanism including turntable 71, record support arm 72 and tone arm 73. It is apparent that a simple stereophonic record player or tape playing apparatus may be substituted for the record changing mechanism. A control panel 74 supporting control knobs 75 is located at the rear of the center portion 70 and controls amplifying and other electronic equipment. A hinged compartment lid 76, shown in an upright open position in FIG. 4, can be swung down to a closed position to completely cover the center portion 79.

Speaker enclosures and 8 1 are provided on the left and right of the center portion 76 of the portable cabinet. Enclosure 80 provides a housing for left

audio channel speakers

82 and 83. Similarly, enclosure 81 provides a housing for right

audio channel speakers

84 and 85. Enclosure 80 is pivotally mounted at the rear of the center portion '70 by hinges as generally indicated at 86, which may be standard break-apart hinges such as the C-type hinge best shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 6. Enclosure S1 is also hinge mounted at the rear of the right side of the center portion 76 by similar hinging means.

As shown in FIG. 6, the C-type hinge 86 includes a male portion having a curved prong 87' and a fiat surface adapted for mounting on the rear side of enclosure 80. The mating hinge part has a slot 88 and a post 89 to receive the prong 87. This allows the enclosure 80 to pivot away from the center portion 70. When the prong 87 is fully withdrawn from the slot 88 the enclosure 89 is free of the cabinet. Thus fastening, pivoting and removal of the enclosure can be quickly achieved by the use of this type of hinge.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the

speakers

82 and 83 are electrically connected to equipment in the center portion 70 by means of line cord 90. A plug 91 at the end of line cord S 0 is received in jack 92 of side vent grill 93. When the enclosure 89 is attached to the center cabinet 70, the excess line cord may be stored .in the rear end of enclosure 80. The grill cloth 94 covering the inside surface of the enclosure 86 contains an oversized opening 95 to facilitate storage of line cord 9% in the enclosure. The line cord may be of any desired length, but is normally about 10 feet in length. Thus, as illustrated by the dotted figure of enclosure 81 in FIG. 4, either or both enclosures may be detached from the center portion of the cabinet and placed at any location with a radius determined by the length of their respective line cord connections.

At the front top and from bottom corners of the grill 94 there are provided studs 96 and 97. An eyelet 98 at the bottom front corner of the cabinet 71! in aligned with stud 97. Another eyelet 99 is provided on the upper front corner of lid 76. When the lid 76 is closed this eyelet and stud 96 will also be in alignment. When the enclosure 80 is swung inward against the cabinet 70 and the lid 76 is in its closed position, the studs 96 and 97 will snap into eyelets 99 and 93 respectively, and thus provide a means of securing the lid '76 in its closed position. The right enclosure 81 is similarly provided with

studs

101 and 102 which will provide engagement between the enclosure 81 and the center portion '70, and also with the lid 76 when it is closed. Thus the lid 76 will be secured on both sides when the portable phonograph cabinet is completely folded together, as in FIG. 5.

On either side of the front of the center cabinet 70 there are provided cabinet catches 103 and 104. These catches snap over catch lugs 105 and 106 to hold enclosures as and '81 respectively against the sides of the center cabinet. A handle 107 is provided on the front of the center portion 70 so that the cabinet may be easily carried when the enclosures and lid are closed. FIG. 5 illustrates the compact integrated contour of the cabinet when it is closed and ready for carrying.

Another embodiment of the invention in a portable cabinet is shown in FIG. 7. A center portion '170 having a lid 176 is adapted to house electronic sound reproducing apparatus in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the cabinet of FIG. 4. However, in the cabinet arrangement of FIG. 7 the left and

night speaker enclosures

130 and 181 are pivotally mounted at the front of the center portion 170 by hinges 136. Thus the enclosures may be swung open to various spaced operating positions angled or flush with the front of the center portion.

This cabinet construction will also fold together to form a compact portable carrying case. To close the cabinet,

enclosures

180 and 181 are first swung together to completely enclose the front surface of the center portion 170. Then the lid 176 is swung down onto the top of the center portion so that the front edge of the lid is flush with the front of the center portion and hidden behind the upper portions of the enclosures. A handle, not shown, is mounted at the rear of the center portion for carrying the portable cabinet in an upright traveling position, in which position the enclosures serve as a bottom for the cabinet. Cooperating fasteners are provided which securely hold the center portion, lid and enclosures together in a rugged carrying cabinet. Vertically grooved catch strips 1% are mounted on the speaker sides of the enclosures high enough to clear the top of the center portion when the enclosures are swung closed against the front surface thereof. The forward edge of the lid 176 carries an angle strip 177 having a lip portion which is received in the groove of the catch strips 1% to lock the enclosures closed when the lid is lowered shut. The bottom edges of the enclosures are secured to the center portion 170 by means of snap studs 197 which are received in mating sockets 198 :located at the bottom of center portion. The lid 176 is fastened by cabinet catches 2113 mounted on either side thereof which engage respective catch lugs, not shown, mounted on the sides of the center portion 170.

As in the floor cabinet embodiments previously described, the portable cabinet of FIG. 7 may house a low frequency speaker behind grill cloth 194 in the center portion, and midrange and high frequency speakers in the enclosures. The low frequency speaker is protected by the enclosures when the cabinet is closed for carrying.

The construction of the detachable mounting hinges 1% is best shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8. For greater speaker spacing, either enclosure may be removed from the cabinet by lifting it off its mounting on the hinge pins 187, and then placing it in the desired remote location. Suitable line cords 190 extend from the enclosures with plugs 191 thereon for engaging jacks 192 on the center portion to electrically connect the speakers with the centrally housed equipment, in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 4. .As previously described in connection with FIG. 2, the hinges themselves serve as electrical connections between the electronic equipment in the center portion and the speakers housed in the enclosures when the latter are attached to the center portion. The loudspeakers in the enclosures are connected by conductors 189 and the conducting hinges 186 to the equipment in the center housing portion 170.

FIGS. 9, l0, and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in a floor cabinet. The main or central portion 110 of the cabinet contains a compartment 111 to accommodate those electronic components which must be accessible for operation. A hinged compartment lid 112 provides access to these components. The lower part of central portion beneath the compartment 111 is adapted to provide an acoustic enclosure for woofer 113.

On the left and right sides at the top of central portion 110, and at the rear thereof, are located spaced

enclosures

114 and 115. As in the previous embodiments of the invention, these enclosures will accommodate a plurality of speakers depending upon the requirements of the overall sound reproduction system. Here, enclosure 114 houses left channel tweeter 116 and midrange speaker 117 and enclosure houses right channel midrange speaker 118 and tweeter 119.

The left and right enclosures are mounted on the top of central portion 110 by a hidden pivoting structure which is shown in detail in the sectional view of FIG. 10. A pivot pin 114a may be mounted on the under side of the top surface of the central portion 110 and extends vertically therethrough to receive a mounting cylinder 11 3b thereon. The mounting cylinder 1141) is located inside and at one end of speaker enclosure 114. This endwise mounting permits the speaker enclosures to be swiveled from a reversed non-operating position to various open operating positions, the speakers being faced forward without having to remove them from the cabinet. The pivot pin 114a could be hollow to carry electrical connecting leads therethrough between equipment in the cabinet and the speakers in the enclosures, and could also, if desired, be made retractable so as to be hidden from View when the enclosures are detached and located at remote playing positions.

The floor cabinet of FIG. 9 is shown in FIG. 11 with the speaker enclosures in the closed non-operational position. It will be seen that again a compact and harmonious cabinet unit is achieved. If it would be preferred to have a compartment lid which will cover the entire top of the cabinet, then it is obvious that standard pivot mounting means could be provided externally on the outer ends of the enclosures and on the sides of the central portion 110. An external mounting would require the enclosures to be swung completely clear of the top of the central portion 110 before such a lid could be opened. With either location of the pivot means, mounting the enclosures to swivel over the compartment lid 112 will help prevent the possibility of the equipment being operated with the enclosures facing rearward in the nonoperating direction.

A further structure for providing left and right detachable speaker enclosures with a floor cabinet is illustrated in FIG. 12. The main central portion 120 of the cabinet has a step-shaped front. Across the front top of the wntral portion 120 there is provided an overhanging portion 121 which forms, together with the front step, a recess in which the

enclosures

122 and 123 may be received in closed position. As in the previous embodiments the enclosures may be detachably mounted to the main cabinet by break-apart hinges to permit removal and operation at points spaced from the main cabinet. Thus, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 12,

enclosure 122 may be easily removed and placed on a nearby table for convenient spaced operation of the speaker system.

Another version of a floor cabinet is provided by mounting the speaker enclosures in the winged fashion of the invention on each side of the central cabinet portion as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. This floor cabinet has a central portion 125 with sides having recessed portions 126 which extend into each side a distance sufiicient to flushly receive left enclosure 127 and right enclosure 128 when they are pivoted back and into the central portion. Two pairs of standard knife hinges 129 and 13th are provided on the top and bottom front inner corners of the

respective enclosures

127 and 128 to serve as pivot mountings, and electrical connections are provided between the enclosures and the center portion 125. Should removability of the enclosures for remote operation be desired, then break-apart hinges and extensible electrical cords may be provided as described in the previous embodiments.

The foregoing cabinets constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention provide a compact unitary housing construction for stereophonic equipment which permits individual arrangement of the speaker systems for each channel. Stereophonic equipment housed in the cabinets is therefore adaptable to meet the acoustical problems presented by common variations in room layout and furnishings. The cabinet is thus well adapted to mass production for the consumer market.

The combination of a central cabinet portion cooperating with separable speaker enclosures may be used for three channel as well as two channel stereophonic systems. This is accomplished by placing a low frequency speaker in the central portion of the cabinet, since practical experimentation has shown that the base frequencies do not in themselves contribute to the stereophonic eflect. The enclosures are then utilized to house the separate channel midrange and high range speakers since the directional characteristics of stereophonic reproduction is dependent to a great degree on midrange and treble notes. These enclosures are automatically spaced from one another for stereophonic operation when pivoted outwardly from the cabinet.

The stereo effect is highly dependent on listening position, and in the cabinets illustrated it is possible to swivel the enclosures to the desired angles without removing the enclosures. Of course, the enclosures may also be angled as desired when they are detached. This flexibility is achieved without sacrificing the compactness and beauty of a console-type furniture cabinet. The speakers may be spaced and angled as desired without upsetting the straight-forward look of the unitary cabinet, and the enclosures also serve as double-sided doors to enclose the cabinet and present a harmonious finished appearance therewith. A cabinet is thus provided to house all equipment needed for reproduction of stereophonic'sound and which may be styled either as a decorative console furniture piece or as a compact portable unit, both styles having a functional construction ideally suited to solve the problems of presenting stereophonic sound.

We claim:

1. Equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound including in combination, a center housing and stereophonic electronic equipment housed thereby, said center housing have a base, a plurality of upright portions and at least a partially open top, said center housing further having a hinge mounted lid to enclose the top thereof and to provide access to said equipment housed therein, left and right loudspeakers, a left enclosure housing said left loudspeaker and a right enclosure housing said right loudspeaker, said enclosures being of a size and shape to match said center housing when in non-operational position adjacent said upright portions of said center housing to provide a harmonious unitary cabinet when said equipment is not in use, detachable hinge means for supporting each of said enclosures in first positions in close proximity to upright portions of said center housing and permitting pivotal movement thereof in variable positions outwardly of said center housing, said hinge means being constructed of electrically conductive material and serving as electrical connections between said electronic equipment and said left and right loudspeakers with said enclosures attached to said center housing, said enclosures being separable from said center housing by detaching said hinge means for spacing said enclosures from said center housing, and respective electric cords for connecting said left and right loudspeakers and said electronic equipment with said enclosures detached and spaced from said center housing.

2. Portable record playing equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound including in combination, a main housing having a base with an open top and a hinge mounted lid on said base to enclose said top, a carrying handle secured to said main housing, stereophonic electronic equipment including a tone arm supported on said base and accessible through said open top when said lid is open, left and right audio channel speaker means, a left enclosure housing said left audio channel speaker means and a right enclosure housing said right audio channel speaker means, said main housing having symmetrically positioned surface portions adapted and shaped to receive said left and right enclosures thereagainst, detachable hinge means for supporting each of said enclosures in first positions in close proximity to said surface portions of said center housing and permitting pivotal movement thereof in variable positions outwardly of said center housing, said hinge means being constructed of electrically conductive material and serving as electrical connections being between said eiectronic equipment and said left and right audio channel speaker means with said enclosures attached to said center housing, said enclosures being separable from said center housing by detaching said hinge means for spacing said enclosures from said center housing, and respective electric cords for connecting said left and right audio channel speaker means and said electronic equipment with said enclosures detached and spaced from said center housing.

3. Equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound including combination, a center housing and stereophonic electronic equipment housed thereby, said center housing having a base and a pair of symmetrical wall portions, left and right loudspeaker means, a first enclosure housing said left loudspeaker means and a second enclosure housing said right loudspeaker means, said enclosures being of a size and shape to match said center housing when positioned against said wall portions of said center housing to provide a unitary closed cabinet, first and second detachable hinge means spaced from each other on said center housing and supporting said first and second enclosures respectively on said center housing, said enclosures being movable on said hinge means from positions against said side walls of said center housing to various positions outwardly of said center housing for reproduction of stereophonic sound, said hinge means being constructed of electrically conductive material, means including said hinge means forming an electrical circuit connecting said electronic equipment to said left and right loudspeaker means when said enclosures are attached to said center housing by said hinge means, said enclosures being separable from said center housing by detaching said hinge means for spacing said enclosures from said center housing, and respective electric cords for connecting said left and right loudspeaker means to said electronic equipment when said hinge means are detached and said enclosures are spaced from said center housing, to thereby provide reproduction of stereophonic sound with said loudspeaker means spaced from each other by a distance greater than the spacing of said hinge means on said center housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 801,780 Egan Oct. 10, 1905 1,904,702 Thomas Apr. 18, 1933 2,036,832 Scheldorf Apr. 7, 1936 2,115,773 Hill May 3, 1938 2,547,447 De Boer Apr. 3, 1951 2,923,370 De Capite Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,299 France Dec. 10, 1945 781,637 Great Britain Aug. 21, 1957

Claims

1. EQUIPMENT FOR REPRODUCING STEREOPHONIC SOUND INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A CENTER HOUSING AND STEREOPHONIC ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT HOUSED THEREBY, SAID CENTER HOUSING HAVE A BASE, A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT PORTIONS AND AT LEAST A PARTIALLY OPEN TOP, SAID CENTER HOUSING FURTHER HAVING A HINGE MOUNTED LID TO ENCLOSE THE TOP THEREOF AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAID EQUIPMENT HOUSED THEREIN, LEFT AND RIGHT LOUDSPEAKERS, A LEDT ENCLOSURE HOUSING SAID LEFT LOUDSPEAKER AND A RIGHT ENCLOSURE HOUSING SAID RIGHT LOUDSPEAKER, SAID ENCLOSURES BEING OF A SIZE AND SHAPE TO MATCH SAID CENTER HOUSING WHEN IN NON-OPERATIONAL POSITION ADJACENT SAID UPRIGHT PORTIONS OF SAID CENTER HOUSING TO PROVIDE A HARMONIOUS UNITARY CABINET WHEN SAID EQUIPMENT IS NOT IN USE, DETACHABLE HINGE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING EACH OF SAID ENCLOSURES IN FIRST POSITIONS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO UPRIGHT PORTIONS OF SAID CENTER HOUSING AND PERMITTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREOF IN VARIABLE POSITION OUTWARDLY OF SAID CENTER HOUSING, SAID HINGE MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATE-