Control and audio systems for a boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10241746-B2
Application number	US-201715633727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2017
Priority date	May 1, 2017
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A boat includes a dash positioned proximate a windshield at a first non-zero angle. A speaker is mounted under a top surface of the dash at a second non-zero angle. The speaker is positioned to direct sound emanating from the speaker through an opening in the dash and the windshield is configured to reflect the sound emanating from the speaker as reflected sound in an aft direction. The boat may also include an enclosure having a reflective surface positioned within a cavity formed between the deck and hull of the boat. A speaker, mounted within the enclosure, and the reflective surface are configured to reflect sound emanating from the speaker off of the reflective surface and through an opening of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A boat comprising:
a hull including a bow, a transom, and port and starboard sides;
a deck including a floor;
a windshield mounted at a first non-zero angle with respect to the floor;
a dash positioned proximate the windshield, the dash including a top surface and an opening; and
a speaker mounted under the top surface of the dash at a second non-zero angle with respect to the floor, the speaker being positioned to direct sound emanating from the speaker through the opening in the dash,
wherein the windshield is configured to reflect the sound emanating from the speaker as reflected sound, and the first non-zero angle of the windshield and the second non-zero angle of the speaker are configured to direct the reflected sound in an aft direction.

2. The boat according to claim 1 , further comprising a listening position located aft of the windshield, wherein the first non-zero angle and second non-zero angle are configured to direct the reflected sound to the listening position.

3. The boat according to claim 2 , wherein the reflected sound is directed toward a location that is between 38 inches and 60 inches above the floor.

4. The boat according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an enclosure mounted under the dash and including a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion of the enclosure having an opening,
wherein the speaker is mounted in the lower portion of the enclosure and positioned to direct sound emanating from the speaker through the opening in the enclosure.

5. The boat according to claim 4 , wherein the enclosure further includes a bottom wall located in the lower portion of the enclosure, and the speaker is mounted to the bottom wall of the enclosure.

6. The boat according to claim 4 , wherein the enclosure further includes a reflective surface formed at a third non-zero angle with respect to the floor, and the reflective surface is configured to reflect the sound emanating from the speaker and direct the sound reflected off of the reflective surface through the opening in the enclosure.

7. The boat according to claim 6 , wherein the enclosure further includes a sidewall located in the lower portion of the enclosure, and the speaker is mounted to the sidewall of the enclosure.

8. The boat according to claim 6 , wherein the enclosure further includes a sidewall located in the lower portion of the enclosure, and the reflective surface is an inner surface the sidewall of the enclosure.

9. The boat according to claim 1 , further comprising a centerline, the dash being positioned on the starboard side of the centerline of the boat.

10. The boat according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a second dash positioned proximate the windshield on the port side of the centerline of the boat, the second dash including a top surface and an opening; and
a second speaker mounted under the top surface of the second dash at a third non-zero angle with respect to the floor, the second speaker being positioned to direct sound emanating from the speaker through the opening in the second dash,
wherein the windshield is configured to reflect the sound emanating from the second speaker as reflected sound, and the first non-zero angle of the windshield and the third non-zero angle of the second speaker are configured to direct the reflected sound in an aft direction.

11. The boat according to claim 10 , wherein the second non-zero angle and the third non-zero angle are the same.

12. A boat comprising:
a hull including a bow, a transom, and port and starboard sides;
a deck including a floor and an opening, the deck being positioned above the hull forming a cavity between the deck and the hull;
an enclosure positioned within the cavity and including a reflective surface, the reflective surface of the enclosure being positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the floor; and
a speaker mounted within the enclosure,
wherein the speaker and the reflective surface of the enclosure are configured to reflect sound emanating from the speaker off of the reflective surface and through the opening.

13. The boat according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a plurality of stringers disposed within the cavity, at least one of the plurality of stringers being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the boat and at least one of the plurality of stringers being oriented in an athwartship direction of the boat, the plurality of stringers forming a plurality of compartments within the cavity,
wherein the enclosure is positioned within one of the plurality of compartments.

14. The boat according to claim 13 , wherein the compartment in which the enclosure is positioned contains a sound dampening material.

15. The boat according to claim 12 , wherein the deck further includes a raised portion above the floor, and the opening is formed in the raised portion.

16. The boat according to claim 15 , wherein the raised portion of the deck supports a seat.

Assignees

• Mastercraft Boat Co Llc

Inventors

• Sheedy Darren S
• Ekern David F

Classifications

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• B63B19/02

  Clear-view screens; {Windshields (canopies connected to windshields B63B17/02)} · CPC title

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04R1/345

  for loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R2430/01

  Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems · CPC title