US3443661A

US3443661A - Package for radio

Info

Publication number: US3443661A
Application number: US752424*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert D Van Sciver
Original assignee: Budd Co
Current assignee: Finnigan MAT GmbH; ThyssenKrupp Budd Co
Priority date: 1968-06-28
Filing date: 1968-06-28
Publication date: 1969-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-13

Description

y 13, 1969 H. D. VAN SCIVER 3,443,661

PACKAGE FOR RADIO Original Filed Dec. 30, 1966 INVENTOR.

HERBERT D- Vdn SCIVER ATTORNEY United States Patent Int. Cl. H04r 7/16 U.S. Cl. ISL-31 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packing box for a small transistor radio is provided. The box is dimensioned to hold the radio after it is unpacked. The box acts as a baffle and resonator to improve the reproduction of sound from the radio.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 606,335, filed Dec. 30, 1966, now abandoned.

Bafile boxes, sounding boards and various other arrangements have been used to enhance the reproduction of sound from a loudspeaker. Also, loudspeakers have been placed in enclosures or resonators to enhance the response of selected frequencies within the audio signal being reproduced. Such enclosures have included spaced walls to provide reflections of signals to produce phase shifts so that the sound from the back end of a speaker is more in phase with the sound emanating from the front of the speaker. The net effect of the various arrangements used heretofore, when properly applied, is to enhance the reproduction of the sound and increase the intelligibility of communications transmitted.

Small, pocket-size, transistorized radios have become very popular in recent years. Because of their relatively small size, none of the advantages relating to enclosures can be effected. In general, the transistor radios include tiny speakers and small cases. This makes it impractical to reproduce and transmit signals below 1,000 cycles. Hence, the sound from the radio is generally squeaky and voice communication is seriously degraded.

In most cases, the packing boxes for the transistor radios are discarded by the purchaser after the radios are unpacked. These packing boxes often involve a sizable portion of the total sales cost to a manufacturer.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for improving the reproduction of sound from small speakers without increasing the size of the cases including such speakers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for improving the reproduction of sound in small transistorized radios without any substantial increase in total sales cost for the manufacture and packaging of such radios.

It is still a further object of this invention to enhance the value of a small transistor radio to a consumer without an increase in cost to the manufacturer.

In accordance with the present invention a packing box for a small transistorized radio is provided. The packing box is dimensioned to receive and hold the radio after it is unpacked. The packing box provides a bafile and a resonator for the sounds emanating from the speaker of the radio thereby improving its overall reproduction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, from a reading of the following specification and claim taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a radio disposed in a packing box, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the transistor radio within the packing box after it is unpacked and during use, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a box and radio partly in cross section, involving further embodiments of the present inventlon.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a packing box 10 is adapted to receive a small transistor radio 12. A foam plastic element 14, or other suitable packing material, is included within the packing box 10 to protect the radio 12 and prevent damage during shipment. A lid or cover 16 is adapted to fit over the packing box 10.

The packing box 10 may comprise cardboard, plastic or other suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, the packing box 10 is made of polystyrene, which may be made by injection molding, for example.

When the radio 12 is unpacked by a purchaser, the packing material comprising the element 14 and the cover 16 are discarded. The radio 12 may then be inserted into the packing box 12 in a manner illustrated in FIG. 2. The mounting of the radio onto the packing box 10 may be by means of the press fit, as illustrated.

The packing box 10 comprises top and bottom

parallel walls

18 and 20, respectively, a pair of

parallel side walls

22 and 24 and a back wall 26. The packing box 10 is enclosed by the top, bottom, side and rear wall and forms an enclosed area 27 which acts as a resonating chamber. The packing case 10 is enclosed on all sides except for an open front area. For purposes of explanation, the packing box 10 may be considered as having a predetermined length, represented by the length of the side walls, and a predetermined depth represented by the width of the top and bottom walls.

The case of the radio 12, which includes a speaker 13, may also be considered as having a predetermined length, a predetermined width, and a predetermined depth, with the length generally being longer than the width.

The radio case is dimensioned to fit into the open area of the packing box 10. The length of the case of the radio therefore is substantially the same as the length of the two

side walls

22 and 24, making allowance for the dimensional thickness of the walls. The width of the radio 12 is substantially shorter than the length of the packing box 10, this length being represented by the length of the top and bottom walls. The depth of the radio 12 is substantially less than the depth of the packing case 10.

When the radio 12 is mounted in the position illustrated, its top and bottom portions physically engage the portions of the top and

bottom walls

18 and 20, respectively. All other areas surrounding the radio 12 are exposed to the atmosphere, with the front portion facing outwardly and the back and side portions being within the enclosure 27.

In the position illustrated, the sound from the speaker 13 is emanated outwardly away from the box 10. At the same time, part of the sound is transmitted into the enclosure 27 around the sides of the radio. In addition to the direct sound from the speaker 13, the case of the radio 12 vibrates, with these vibrations being transferred to the walls of the packing box 10.

The total effect of the arrangement illustrated is that the sound emanating from the speaker 13 is greatly enhanced. Part of this enhancement is due to the packing box or case 10 acting as a sounding board, with part of the enhancement resulting from the enclosed area 27 acting as a resonator. The various dimensions of the parts involved, together with the space relationship of the various walls, cause the phase relationship to be such that the low frequency signals became enhanced or emphasized.

In actual practice, signals over a range of frequencies less than 200 cycles to over 10,000 cycles were applied to the radio. A microphone was placed about two feet from the radio to pick up the signals transmitted from the speaker. When the radio 12 was not placed in the box 10, the response or amplitude for signals below 1,000 cycles was very low. When the radio was put in the packing box 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the signals below 1,000 cycles were greatly increased in amplitude. With the use of cardboard as the material for the packing box, the low frequency signals were considerably enhanced. The use of a plastic box resulted in still greater improvement in the low frequency response over the response received with the cardboard enclosure.

For purposes of illustration, the following dimensions are given relating to the radio 12 and the packing box 10. The packing box may range from five to seven inches long, four to six inches wide and three to four inches deep. The length of the case of the radio may range to conform with the width of the packing box, i.e. from four to six inches, its width may be less than the length of the packing box to provide open areas on both sides thereof when inserted into the box, i.e. from three to five inches, and its depth may be between one and two inches.

In a preferred embodiment giving improved low frequency response, the outside dimensions of the packing box were six inches long, four and three-quarter inches high or wide and three and one-quarter inches deep. The case of the radio was four and one-half inches long, three inches wide and one and one-eighth inches deep. The thickness of the wall of the packing box is not critical and may range from one thirty-second to three sixtyfourths of an inch.

It is realized, of course, that the above dimensions may be varied depending upon the particular response desired. In general the same proportional relationship between the packing box and the case of the radio is desirable, regardless of the precise dimensions involved.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 2. The radio 12 includes a pair of notched

elements

30 and 32 adapted to snap into

grooves

34 and 36 formed into the box 10. The notches and the grooves may generally be incorporated into the units without substantial additional cost during the manufacturing operation which may involve molding techniques.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 shows the radio 12 having a clip 38 adapted to fit over the top wall of the packing box and snap into a groove 40 therein. The clip may be plastic and formed with the case of the radio during manufacture and be resilient in nature. It may also be an additional element to the radio case, if desired, such as a resilient metallic spring element.

It is seen that the subject invention has made it possible to provide improved sound reproduction from a speaker of a transistor radio without adding materially to the manufacturing cost. This is made possible by the utilization of a packing box, which is normally discarded by a purchaser after the radio is unpacked.

In addition to providing an improved product for a manufacturer without additional cost, the subject invention has made is possible to provide a manufacturer with a sales feature to increase the appeal of his product for consumers.

I claim:

1. An acoustical enclosure for a transistor radio having a speaker permanently connected inside of a case with the case being dimensioned between four and six inches long, three and five inches wide and one and two inches deep, said case including top and bottom protruding elements, said acoustical enclosure comprising top and bot tom walls dimensioned between five and seven inches long, side walls joining said top and bottom walls dimensioned between four and six inches long, a rear wall joining said top, bottom, and side walls to provide a completely closed acoustical enclosure except for an open front, said acoustical enclosure including recesses in said top and bottom walls disposed towards said open front, said case being fitted securely lengthwise between said top and bottom walls towards said open front of said enclosure, with said protruding elements of said case being fitted into said recesses of said acoustical enclosure, the front, sides and rear walls of said case being free of said enclosure, a portion of the sound emanating from the speaker being directed towards the inner walls of said enclosure and reflected towards said open front, said enclosure acting as a resonator and a bafile to enhance the sound emanating from said speaker, the dimensions of said enclosure causing the acoustical signals in the range below 1,000 cycles per second to be enhanced.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,527 5/ 1943 Zavattaro 325-352 2,878,375 3/1959 Schachtel 325-361 3,231,079 1/1966 Ryan 206-46 3,244,981 4/ 1966 Tatevasian 325361 FOREIGN PATENTS 980,670 1/ 1965 Great Britain.

STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 20646; 325-361