US3213961A

US3213961A - Cabinet

Info

Publication number: US3213961A
Application number: US368640A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ned R Kuypers; Oswald J Mazzetta
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 1964-05-19
Filing date: 1964-05-19
Publication date: 1965-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-26

Description

1965 N, R. KUYPERS ETAL 3,213,961

CABINET Filed May '19, 1964 INVENTORS Oswald J Muzzertc Jn BY Ned R Kuypers.

AT TYS.

United States Patent 3,213,961 CABINET Ned R. Kuypers, Stanford, Calif., and Oswald J. Mazzetta, Palatine, Ill., assignors to Motorola, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No. 368,640 3 Claims. (Cl. 1'8131) This invention relates to cabinets for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus.

A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus usually requires at least two spaced apart speakers for reproducing the left and right channels of the stereophonic sound. Where compactness is desired, such cabinets are often constructed so that the speaker enclosures may be stored in a less conspicuous manner when they are not in use. One way of accomplishing this, as depicted in Huff et al. Patent No. 3,090,462, is to mount speaker enclosures on hinges on either side of the main cabinet section so that the speaker enclosures can be folded up against the main cabinet section when not in use. It is desirable that the cabinet, when not in use, be of a configuration to perform a decorative function such as complementing the other furniture in a room. It may also be desirable that the grille cloth over the right and left channel speakers, and the controls and indicator dials for the apparatus, be concealed when not in use. A lid or doors might be used to conceal these items, but this adds cost and size to the cabinet.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus which utilizes foldable size speaker enclosures and which presents an attractive external appearance when the side speaker enclosures are in either folded or unfolded positions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus wherein a center cabinet section carries controls on the top thereof, and wherein foldable side speaker en- .closures cover the top of the center cabinet section in folded position to conceal the controls.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention, and with the side speaker enclosures in unfolded position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the cabinet of FIG. 1 with the side speaker enclosures in folded position; and,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View with the side speaker enclosures in unfolded position,

In accordance with the invention a cabinet for housing a stereophonic radio receiver includes a center section and a pair of side speaker enclosures. The center section has a top surface with controls disposed thereon, at least a portion of which surface is inclined from the horizontal. Each of the side speaker enclosures of the cabinet has an inclined surface ,thereon corresponding to the inclined portion of the top surface. The side speaker enclosures are pivotally secured at their inclined surfaces to the center section at the inclined portion of the top surface thereof, and are pivotal from respective sides of the center section to a closed position covering the top surface of the center section. The inclined surfaces on the side speaker enclosures make with the incliner portion of the top surface of the center section when the side speaker enclosures are in closed position to give the cabinet a compact, chest-like appearance.

The center section may include a front surface with a speaker opening therein, and an indicator dial may be disposed on the inclined portion of the top surface. Controls may be recessed in a well in the top surface. The inclined portion of the top surface, and the inclined surphonic radio receiver contained in the cabinet.

3,213,961 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 faces of the side speaker enclosures may be inclined 45 from the horizontal and vertical in order that the side speaker enclosures will be disposed vertically when unfolded and horizontally when folded.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in an attitude adapted for stereophonic sound reproduction. The cabinet, which houses a radio receiver for stereo signals, includes a center section 11 and a pair of

side speaker enclosures

13 and 14. The front surface 15 of center section 11 may be comprised of a grill cloth over a bafile with a speaker opening therein for a speaker reproducing the third or center channel of a three channel stereo system. Such a center channel reproduces the low frequency audio signals of both right and left stereo channels which are non-directional and do not contribute significantly to a stereo effect. A two channel stereo system may also be used in which instance the front surface 15 might be a plain or decorated wood panel. Gripping wells 17 are disposed on the sides 18 of center section 11 to facilitate transporting of the cabinet and to enhance its appearance.

Center section 11 further includes a top surface 25 having a well 26 in which are disposed a plurality of controls 27 for the radio receiver. Top surface 25 has an inclined portion 29 rearwardly of front surface 15. Inclined portion 29 of top surface 25 has an indicator dial 31 for conveniently indicating the tuning of the stereo Inclined portion 29 of top surface 25 terminates in a rail 33. By

placing the controls and diols on the top, as described,

'45 and 46, respectively, disposed upwardly of

front surfaces

43 and 44. Hinges 55 pivotally connect the

side enclosures

13 and 14, at the inclined surfaces thereof, to the center section 11 at the inclined portion 29 of top surface 25.

It is desirable for compactness, when the apparatus is not in use, that

side enclosures

13 and 14 be foldable against center section 11 to present a compact outward appearance. point it is desirable that the controls 27 and dial 31 in top surface 25 of center section 11, and that the grill cloth on

front surfaces

43 and 44 of

side enclosures

13 and 14, be concealed when the apparatus is not in use. These items are concealed at the same time the

side speaker enclosures

13 and 14 are folded against center section 11. This is because the side speaker enclosures are joined to the center section at the corresponding inclined surfaces and as a result are pivotal on hinges 55 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As may be seen from the drawings, when

side enclosures

13 and 14 are in folded position, the unit presents the appearance of a chest of compact box-like configuration. If the front of the center enclosure is not utilized as a speaker, it may be made a solid panel so that when the side enclosures are folded the cabinet will appear as a solid chest. Decorative trim may be placed on the exterior of the cabinet in Furthermore, from the appearance stand- I on tile siue enclosure antl are electrically connected H16 speaker. The Huff et al. patent, cited above, shows such a hinge construction. When the hinges are separated, the speaker would be electrically connected to the radio receiver through cables and connector plugs (not shown) in the back of the unit.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides a cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus wherein the speakers for left and right channels are contained in enclosures which fold out on either side from the top of a center cabinet section. The cabinet presents an attractive appearance in both folded and unfolded condition, a-nd when in folded condition, the side enclosures may conceal a dial and controls on the top of the center section.

We claim:

1. A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus and adapted to be altered from a closed condition to an open condition with side speaker enclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, said cabinet including in combination, a center section having a top surface with control means disposed thereon, at least a portion of said top surface being inclined from the horizontal to be readily visible from both forwardly and upwardly of said cabinet in open condition, a pair of side speaker enclosures disposed in open condition on either side of said center section, each of said side speaker enclosures having an inclined surface thereon corresponding to said inclined portion of said top surface, means pivotally securing each of said side speaker enclosures at an edge of said inclined surface thereof to said center section at an edge of said inclined portion of said top surface, said inclined surfaces of said side speaker enclosures and said inclined portion of said top surface being substantially coplanar when said cabinet is in the open condition, said side speaker enclosures being pivotal about an inclined axis from respective sides of said center section to a closed position covering said top surface of said center section to conceal said control means thereon, said inclined surfaces mating with said inclined portion of said top surface when said side speaker enclosures are in closed position to give said cabinet a compact configuration.

2. A cabinet for housing stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus and adapted to be altered from a closed condition to an open condition with side speaker enclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, said cabinet including in combination, a center section having a top surface at least a portion of which is inclined subcabinet a chest-like connguratron.

3. A cabinet for housing stereophonic radio apparatus and adapted to be altered from a closed condition to an open condition with side speaker enclosures spaced for stereophonic sound reproduction, said cabinet including in combination, a center section having a top surface with control means thereon and a front surface for providing a speaker baffle, said top surface having a portion with a dial therein and inclined substantially 45 from the horizontal and disposed rearwardly of said front surface of said center section to render said dial visible from forwardly and upwardly of said cabinet in the open condition, a pair of side speaker enclosures disposed in the open condition on either side of said center section, each of said side speaker enclosures having a vertically disposed front surface in the open condition for providing a speaker baflie and having a surface upwardly of said front surface inclined substantially 45 from the horizontal and corresponding to said inclined portion of said top surface, and hinge means pivotally connecting each of said side speaker enclosures at an edge of said inclined surface thereof to said center section at an edge of said inclined portion of said top surface thereof, said inclined surfaces of said side speaker enclosures and said inclined portion of said top surface being substantially coplanar when said cabinet is in the open condition, with said front surfaces of said side speaker enclosures disposed below the level of said top surface of-center section, said side speaker enclosures being pivotal about an inclined axis from respective sides of said center section to a closed position adjacent each other covering said top surface of said center section and concealing said control means and said dial, with said inclined surfaces on said side speaker enclosure-s mating with said inclined portion of said top surface and with said front surface of said side speaker enclosures mating with the remainder of said top surface to give said cabinet a chest-like configuration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,090,462 5/63 Huff et a1 18131 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,299 12/45 France. 871,574 6/61 Great Britain.

'70 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A CABINET FOR HOUSING STEREOPHONIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND ADAPTED TO BE ALTERED FROM A CLOSED CONDITION TO AN OPEN CONDITION WITH SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES SPACED FOR STEREOPHONIC SOUND REPRODUCTION, SAID CABINET INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A CENTER SECTION HAVING A TOP SURFACE WITH CONTROL MEANS DISPOSED THEREON, AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE BEING INCLINED FROMTHE HORIZONTAL TO BE READILY VISIBLE FROM BOTH FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY OF SAID CABINET IN OPEN CONDITION, A PAIR OF SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES DISPOSED IN OPEN CONDITION ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID CENTER SECTION, EACH OF SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES HAVING AN INCLUINED SURFACE THEREON CORRESPONDING TO SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING EACH OF SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES AT AN EDGE OF SAID INCLINED SURFACE THEREOF TO SAID CENTER SECTION AT AN EDGE OF SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE SAID INCLINED SURFACE OF SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES AND SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WHEN SAID CABINET IS IN THE OPEN CONDITION, SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES BEING PIVOTAL ABOUT AN INCLINED AXIS FROM RESPECTIVE SIDES OF SAID CENTER SECTION TO A CLOSED POSITION COVERING SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID CENTER SECTION TO CONCEAL SAID CONTROL MEANS THEREON, SAID INCLINED SURFACES MATING WITH SAID INCLINED PORTION OF SAID TOP SURFACE WHEN SAID SIDE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES ARE IN CLOSED POSITION TO GIVE SAID CABINET A COMPACT CONFIGURATION.