Sound reproduction apparatus for use in vehicular audio applications

Abstract

Speaker apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk. The speaker apparatus comprises a spare wheel carrying a tire that is disposed in the trunk. An enclosure is secured to the spare wheel. A speaker disposed in the interior of the enclosure. A vent hose couples the interior of the enclosure to the passenger compartment. In another embodiment, the enclosure comprises front and rear sections that are secured together and sandwich the spare wheel. In another embodiment, the enclosure is sealed, and two vent hoses are used to couple rear and front waves emanating from the speaker into the passenger compartment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Speaker apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk, comprising: 
 a spare wheel carrying a tire disposed in the trunk;    an enclosure disposed in the spare wheel;    a speaker disposed in the interior of the enclosure;    a vent hose coupling the interior of the enclosure to the passenger compartment.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in claim I wherein the speaker is disposed in the interior of the enclosure.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1    wherein the speaker is disposed outside of the enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in    claim 3    wherein the speaker faces the passenger compartment and is disposed in the interior of the enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1    wherein the enclosure comprises front and rear sections that are secured together and sandwich the spare wheel.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1    wherein the front and rear sections of the enclosure comprise molded plastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1    wherein the speaker is secured to the front section of the enclosure.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1    wherein the enclosure is sealed and wherein a first vent hose couples a rear wave emanating from the speaker into the rear section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment, and a second vent hose couples a front wave emanating from the speaker into the front section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in    claim 8    wherein the first vent hose has a length that is matched to the front wave produced by the speaker, and wherein the second vent hose has a length that is matched to the rear wave produced by the speaker.  
     
     
         10 . Speaker apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk, comprising: 
 a spare wheel carrying a tire disposed in the trunk;    an enclosure having front and rear sections that are secured together and sandwich the spare wheel;    a speaker disposed in the interior of the enclosure;    a vent hose coupling the interior of the enclosure to the passenger compartment.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in    claim 10    wherein the front and rear sections of the enclosure comprise molded plastic material.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in    claim 10    wherein the speaker is secured to the front section of the enclosure.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in    claim 1   O wherein the enclosure is sealed and wherein a first vent hose couples a rear wave emanating from the speaker into the rear section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment, and a second vent hose couples a front wave emanating from the speaker into the front section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in    claim 13    wherein the first vent hose has a length that is matched to the front wave produced by the speaker, and wherein the second vent hose has a length that is matched to the rear wave produced by the speaker.  
     
     
         15 . Speaker apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a trunk, comprising: 
 a spare wheel carrying a tire disposed in the trunk;    a sealed enclosure having front and rear sections that are secured together and sandwich the spare wheel;    a speaker disposed in the interior of the enclosure;    a first vent hose that couples a rear wave emanating from the speaker into the rear section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment; and    a second vent hose couples a front wave emanating from the speaker into the front section of the enclosure to the passenger compartment.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in    claim 15    wherein the front and rear sections of the enclosure comprise molded plastic material.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in    claim 15    wherein the speaker is secured to the front section of the enclosure.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in    claim 15    wherein the first vent hose has a length that is matched to the front wave produced by the speaker, and wherein the second vent hose has a length that is matched to the rear wave produced by the speaker.