Tubular handlebar with integrated speakers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688343-B2
Application number	US-201514835119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2015
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A tubular handlebar includes an internal peripheral surface and a stem head with a mounting system for a mobile device. The tubular handlebar includes a open end, a closed end, at least one speaker unit embedded into at least one through hole of the internal peripheral surface, and a bass reflex system to enhance the acoustic characteristics of the sound generated by the at least one speaker unit. The tubular handlebar has a sound box affixed to the internal peripheral surface of the tubular handlebar and housing a rear part of the at least one speaker unit. The bass reflex system includes a bass reflex duct connecting the sound box with the first end. The mounting system further includes a first connector to electrically connect the mobile device to a second connector. The second connector can be detached or reattached to the at least one speaker unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle handlebar comprising:
a tubular structure with an internal peripheral surface,
an outer end being open that allows air circulation from an external environment,
an inner end being closed,
at least one speaker unit embedded into at least one through hole on the internal peripheral surface, wherein
each speaker unit of the at least one speaker unit has a face exposed to the external environment and oriented in an upward direction substantially normal to the internal peripheral surface, and

a bass reflex system that channels sound from a rear part of the at least one speaker to the external environment, via the outer end, and to enhance the reproduction of the lowest frequencies generated from the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

2. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure further includes a first side handlebar component, a second side handlebar component, and a connection member, wherein the connection member connects the first side handlebar component with the second side handlebar component and is affixed to a stem head with a mounting system to mount and dismount a mobile device.

3. The bicycle handlebar of claim 2 , wherein the tubular structure further includes a first connector to electrically connect the mobile device to a second connector, wherein the second connector is electrically connected to the at least one speaker unit.

4. The bicycle handlebar of claim 3 , wherein the second connector is detachable and attachable.

5. The bicycle handlebar of claim 4 , wherein a first camera is affixed to the stem head and connected to the mobile device via the first connector.

6. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 , wherein the outer end includes a first cross sectional area and the inner end includes a second cross sectional area, the first cross sectional area being smaller than the second cross sectional area.

7. The bicycle handlebar of claim 6 , wherein the internal peripheral surface includes an inner tubular part starting from the second cross sectional area and an outer tubular part ending by the first cross sectional area, wherein the inner tubular part is larger in volume than the outer tubular part.

8. The bicycle handlebar of claim 7 , wherein the outer tubular part has a length and a diameter that are manufacturable at different values to change the acoustic characteristics of the sound generated by the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

9. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 , wherein the bass reflex system includes a duct diameter adjustment member affixed to the internal peripheral surface.

10. The bicycle handlebar of claim 9 , wherein the duct diameter adjustment member has a length and a diameter that are manufacturable at different values to change the acoustic characteristics of the sound generated by the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

11. The bicycle handlebar of claim 9 , wherein the duct diameter adjustment member is placed between the at least one speaker unit and the outer end.

12. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure further includes:
a sound box in immediate contact with the internal peripheral surface and housing the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

13. The bicycle handlebar of claim 12 , wherein the bass reflex system includes a bass reflex duct connecting the sound box with the outer end.

14. The bicycle handlebar of claim 12 , wherein the bass reflex duct has a length and a diameter that are manufacturable at different values to change the acoustic characteristics of the sound generated by the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

15. A bicycle comprising:
a stem head with a mounting system to mount and dismount a mobile device; and
a tubular handlebar with an internal peripheral surface, the tubular handlebar including:
an outer end being open that allows air circulation from an external environment,
an inner end being closed,
at least one speaker unit embedded into at least one through hole on the internal peripheral surface, wherein
each speaker unit of the at least one speaker unit has a face exposed to the external environment and oriented in an upward direction substantially normal to the internal peripheral surface, and

a bass reflex system that channels sound from a rear part of the at least one speaker to the external environment, via the outer end, and to enhance the reproduction of the lowest frequencies generated from the rear part of the at least one speaker unit.

16. The bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the tubular handlebar further includes a first side handlebar component, a second side handlebar component, and a connection member, wherein the connection member connects the first side handlebar component with the second side handlebar component and is affixed to the stem head.

17. The bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the mounting system further includes a first connector to electrically connecting the mobile device to a second connector, wherein the second connector is electrically connected to the at least one speaker unit.

18. The bicycle of claim 17 , wherein the second connector is detachable and attachable.

19. The bicycle of claim 18 , wherein a first camera is affixed to the stem head and connected to the mobile device via the first connector.

20. The bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the outer end includes a first cross sectional area and the inner end includes a second cross sectional area, the first cross sectional area being smaller than the second cross sectional area.

Assignees

• Sony Corp
• Sony Mobile Communications Inc

Inventors

• Takanashi Shin
• Matsumoto Yuji
• Hirano Shimpei

Classifications

• B62J45/10

  Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor · CPC title

• B62J50/225

  Mounting arrangements therefor · CPC title

• B62K21/12 Primary

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K19/40

  for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps · CPC title

• B62J2099/0033

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic