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Embodiments of the present invention comprise a battery charging jobsite audio unit that is particularly useful at construction and other jobsites are disclosed which provides important desirable features and functionality comprise a housing, at least one charger for charging a removable battery pac

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a battery charging jobsite audio unit that is particularly useful at construction and other jobsites are disclosed which provides important desirable features and functionality comprise a housing, at least one charger for charging a removable battery pack, an audio unit that includes a speaker system for providing substantially 360° sound, as well as subwoofer, a cord and plug for connecting the unit to a source of AC power, and circuitry for selectively applying power to the audio unit and the charger. The preferred and alternative embodiments also preferably have a unique protective frame structure that is connected to the housing of the unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: a housing having a front, two sides, a rear, a top and a bottom;an audio unit for producing audio signals located in said housing;a frame structure that is in the shape of an open faced cuboid, said frame structure being larger than said housing and being attached thereto

1. An apparatus comprising: a housing having a front, two sides, a rear, a top and a bottom;an audio unit for producing audio signals located in said housing;a frame structure that is in the shape of an open faced cuboid, said frame structure being larger than said housing and being attached thereto at multiple connection points, said frame structure providing protection for said housing and suspending said housing above a supporting surface by a predetermined distance; anda plurality of speakers selectively connected to said audio unit, said speakers being mounted in said housing for projecting sound outwardly in a plurality of directions;wherein said plurality of speakers include at least three speakers that face in different directions relative to each other. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of speakers comprises speakers at spaced locations around the top of said housing. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of speakers comprises a speaker located near the top of the housing and near each of the interface of one of said sides with said front and rear. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing generally has the shape of a cuboid, and said plurality of speakers comprises a speaker mounted in a space located at each of the four corners that are adjacent to said top. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said space is an angled face that is oriented to direct sound upwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of said housing. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said angled face is angled relative to vertical within the range of about 30 to about 45 degrees. 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said audio unit provides stereo signals that are connected to said speakers in a configuration whereby speakers adjacent to one another are left and right stereo speakers. 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said plurality of speakers further comprises a subwoofer speaker mounted in said bottom of said housing. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein at least some of said speakers are weatherproof speakers. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprises: a charger located in said housing for charging a removable battery pack of the type which is used to power rechargeable hand tools and other tools;a cord and plug for connecting said apparatus to a source of AC powera receptacle operably connected to said charger and being capable of receiving a removable battery pack to be charged by said charger;a relay connected in circuit between a battery pack located in said receptacle and said audio unit;a relay coil connected in circuit between said cord and said audio unit, said coil monitoring the presence of AC power being applied to said audio unit and causing said relay to open circuit and electrically isolate said audio unit from both legs of each said battery when AC power is applied to said audio unit and close circuit when AC power is not applied to said audio unit, thereby enabling said battery pack to power said audio unit when AC power is not applied thereto. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including at least one AC power receptacle connected in said first circuit so that AC power can be provided to said receptacle when said cord and plug is connected to a source of AC power. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including an AC to DC converter connected in said first circuit and at least one DC power receptacle connected to said converter. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a ground fault circuit interrupter connected in said first circuit between said at least one AC power receptacle and said cord. 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said audio unit comprises a radio. 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said audio unit further comprises a CD player. 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame structure comprises a plurality of elongated generally cylindrical frame members that are connected to one another by connector fittings at the eight corners. 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said housing has a top, bottom, front, rear and two side walls, and recesses located at the interface of the top and the two sides and the bottom and the two sides, an elongated cylindrical housing member located in each recess and attached to said housing at opposite ends, a plurality of linking connectors being attached to each housing member and an adjacent frame member, to thereby connect said frame structure to said housing. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said audio unit has operating controls and displays located in a front of said housing. 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising an access door located in a rear wall for accessing a chamber that includes a receptacle for receiving a battery pack for charging by said charger. 20. An audio power unit for providing an audio output and for charging at least one removable battery pack, said unit comprising: a housing having a generally cuboid shape with front, rear, left and right sides, a top and a bottom; a charger including a receptacle located in said housing for charging said at least one removable battery pack; an audio unit for producing an audio output located in said housing; a frame structure that is in the shape of an open faced cuboid, said frame structure being larger than said housing and being attached thereto at multiple connection points, said frame structure providing protection for said housing and suspending said housing above a supporting surface by a predetermined distance; a plurality of left and right stereo speakers selectively connected to said audio unit, said speakers being mounted in said housing for projecting sound outwardly in a plurality of directions, wherein said plurality of speakers include at least three speakers that face in different directions relative to each other; a subwoofer speaker mounted in said bottom of said housing and being configured to direct sound downwardly toward a surface on which said apparatus is supported; a cord and plug for connecting said apparatus to a source of AC power: a circuit for connecting said cord to said charger and said audio unit, whereby AC power is applied to said audio unit to power the same and AC power is also applied to said charger, said circuit isolating said audio unit from both the positive and negative legs of said battery pack when AC power is applied to said audio unit and connecting said battery pack to power said audio unit when AC power is not applied to said audio unit. 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said space is an angled face that is oriented to direct sound upwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of said housing. 22. An audio power unit as defined in claim 20 wherein said battery charger has the capability for charging both Ni-Cad battery packs and Li-Ion battery packs. 23. An audio power unit as defined in claim 20 wherein speakers immediately adjacent to one another are the opposite of either left and right stereo speakers.