The object of the invention is a waterproof loudspeaker arrangement, a method for fabricating a waterproof loudspeaker arrangement, and a product comprising a waterproof loudspeaker arrangement.

Attempts have been made to make various loudspeaker arrangements water-resistant in order to extend their field of application to cover humid conditions. It is known in the art to manufacture Bluetooth speakers, for instance, for use in a shower, or Bluetooth headsets for use when jogging. In such a case it is endeavored to make the connections and seams of the speaker/headsets as resistant as possible to splash water with various connection solutions and different seals. The materials used are also selected to be splash-resistant. Another known field of application for splash-resistant arrangements covers the various loudspeaker solutions for boats, which solutions are also intended to be resistant to splash water. There are many such types of splash-proof solutions on the market and e.g. the prior art from specification US2021360340 Al can be used in them as a membrane for a loudspeaker. Said specification discloses one possible solution for fabricating a splashproof loudspeaker. Splash-proofing is achieved by enclosing the aperture of the audio output of the loudspeaker in a watertight manner with a water-impermeable, soundtransmitting membrane. A problem with this known art is obtaining a sound of adequate quality from the loudspeaker.

Also known in the art are various headsets based on bone conduction technology, which are highly popular for use when exercising and are suitable also for swimming because of their technology. The use of bone conduction technology enables the achievement of waterproofing suitable for swimming with the correct material solutions and with careful sealing technology. When using bone conduction technology, each listener must have their own headphones connected to the sound source. Despite being wireless, bone conducting headsets may also feel unpleasant to use and require the manufacture of numerous earpiece solutions of various sizes for different-sized listeners in order for all users to receive the best possible listening experience.

The loudspeaker arrangements in sauna use are typically solutions permanently fastened to a wall, the solutions being concealed behind sealed structures. In such a case, the loudspeaker solution is not movable and is tied to a certain location. Furthermore, the technology used in prior-art solutions is not renewable and is very sensitive to moisture.

Owing to the production limitations of conventional loudspeaker technology, the visual modification of loudspeaker products has been restricted. Likewise, due to the methods of conventional production, other solutions require that products be stored before they are sold. Production in the solution according to the invention is driven by demand because new products are produced as and when demand increases.

The solution according to the invention eliminates the problems of prior art with respect to water-resistance and provides a solution that enables listening in humid conditions without separate personal listening means. The solution according to the invention comprises a vibration loudspeaker, i.e. a vibrospeaker, in an enclosed seamless space, in which case the loudspeaker arrangement is made fully waterproof. 3D-printing is used to fabricate the seamless space.

The loudspeaker arrangement and the method for fabricating a loudspeaker arrangement according to the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of the independent claims. Other preferred embodiments according to the invention are presented in the subordinate claims.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail with the aid of some examples of its embodiment with reference to the attached simplified drawing, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a simplified schematic drawing of an embodiment of a loudspeaker arrangement according to the invention, as viewed from the side, and

Fig. 2 presents a simplified schematic drawing of a second embodiment of a loudspeaker arrangement according to the invention, as viewed from the side. Fig. 1 presents a preferred embodiment of the waterproof loudspeaker arrangement 1 according to the invention. The loudspeaker arrangement 1 in this embodiment is installed on the water receptacle of a sauna, i.e. on a bucket 2. The waterproof loudspeaker arrangement 1 comprises a vibration loudspeaker i.e. a vibrospeaker 4 disposed in a seamless enclosed space 3. The vibrospeaker 4 is per se known in the art and its operation is based on the transmission of sound by means of vibration from a sound source via an external contact surface to the outside world. For example, when placing the vibrospeaker on top of a table, the tabletop functions as a loudspeaker element that when vibrating reproduces the sound of the loudspeaker to the outside world. The material and size of the tabletop partly affect the quality of the sound produced by the vibrospeaker.

The bucket 2 comprises two main parts, a water receptacle 5 and a loudspeaker arrangement 1 disposed under the water receptacle and connected to it. The bucket 2 can be moved by lifting it with the handle 7 fastened to the water receptacle 5 at the fixing points 6, the handle preferably having a non-heatable handle part 8 designed for the hand. The water receptacle 5 is in this embodiment fastened to the loudspeaker arrangement 1 by means of threads 9, in which case the top surface 10 of the loudspeaker arrangement functions as the base of the water receptacle. It is also possible to make the water receptacle 5 from a unitary piece that also includes a base and then to connect it with threads to the loudspeaker arrangement 1. In this case a double base is formed in the bucket 2. The loudspeaker arrangement 1 is in this embodiment fastened to the water receptacle 5 with threads 9, but it is obvious to the person skilled in the art that also other types of joints can be used to fasten the pieces to each other (shape-locking joints, various joints made with fasteners).

The loudspeaker arrangement 1 comprises a vibrospeaker, i.e. a vibration loudspeaker 4, enclosed in an airtight/watertight seamless space 3, in which case the loudspeaker arrangement 1 can be used e.g. in hot and humid conditions, such as in saunas, including in the steam room. The vibrospeaker 4 can be situated in a separate airtight/watertight seamless space 3, as presented in Fig. 1, or alternatively the whole loudspeaker arrangement 1 fastened below the base of the water receptacle 5 can in its entirety be a seamless airtight/watertight structure, which is brought about by 3D-printing and thus comprises a vibrospeaker 4 and a sound box 11.

The loudspeaker arrangement 1 comprises a vibrospeaker 4 and also an acoustically optimized sound box 11 in which are through holes. The sound box 11 is fabricated for each specific application/product, personalized in different shapes, in which case the best possible solution in terms of sound reproduction is obtained for each product.

The waterproof, seamless space 3 is made by 3D-printing material around the vibrospeaker 4. The operating pushbutton 12 of the vibro speaker 4, with which preferably all the necessary controls of the vibrospeaker 4, such as current (on/off), next/previous track and pause/play/stop, are managed is disposed in this embodiment under the base of the water receptacle 5, i.e. under the top surface 10 of the loudspeaker arrangement. The wall, or wall section, of the watertight seamless space 3 that is against the operating pushbutton 12 of the vibrospeaker 4 is fabricated with a sufficiently thin material thickness so that the operating pushbutton can easily be operated. The operating pushbutton 12 can also be operated if the material thickness in the proximity of the edge of the operating pushbutton is fabricated to be sufficiently thin. When the base of the water receptacle 5 is formed from the top surface 10 of the loudspeaker arrangement 1, the vibrospeaker 4 can be started easily even if there is water in the water receptacle. This is also possible even if the water receptacle has its own base by fabricating the material thicknesses of the base and of the top surface 10 of the loudspeaker arrangement 1 to be sufficiently thin at least at the location of the operating pushbutton 12. An alternative is to start the vibrospeaker 4 from the operating pushbutton 12 and after that connect the water receptacle 5, with its base, to the loudspeaker arrangement 1.

The vibrospeaker 4 is preferably provided with wireless charging of the battery of the loudspeaker, in which case no lead-ins or other such charging cables are needed. On the other hand, e.g. a wired USB connection to be used for charging the battery can be made fully airtight/watertight by installing the necessary parts into connection with the pocket in conjunction with manufacture of the airtight/watertight pocket 3. Some other charging technology known in the art can also be used for charging the battery of the loudspeaker 4, which technology uses different connectors intended for current supply. When the loudspeaker arrangement 1 is situated under the base of a water receptacle 5, the solution also becomes heat resistant because the vibrospeaker 4 is then surrounded by effective insulation: air or the water in the water receptacle. Thermal conductivity along the fixed structures, which themselves are good insulators, to the vibrospeaker 4 is minimal.

The vibrospeaker 4 is preferably used with a wireless telecommunications connection, such as with e.g. Bluetooth technology, which enables installation of the vibrospeaker in a fully enclosed seamless space 3. The vibrospeaker 4 thus comprises the necessary means for wireless telecommunications with a media source 13. The loudspeaker to be used is not dependent on a certain manufacturer but instead the options of different manufacturers of any other corresponding technology whatsoever can be used as a loudspeaker. The vibrospeaker 4 operates by means of Bluetooth technology utilizing a smartphone, tablet, Bluetooth transmitter of a computer, or some other corresponding media source 13. The vibrospeaker 4 is switched on by pressing the operating pushbutton 12, after which it is connected to a transmitting device. After switching on, the desired media can be played.

The 3D-printed space containing the vibrospeaker 4 of the loudspeaker arrangement 1, and possibly the larger assembly of the loudspeaker arrangement (such as including the sound box) is fabricated from any material whatsoever that is suited to 3D-printing, and that withstands water and heat at least to the extent of the conditions prevailing in a sauna. Preferably the material is a material manufactured in an ecologically sustainable manner, such as e.g. commercially available UPM Formi 3D-cellulose composite. Also other types of 3D-printable materials are alternative solutions. If only the space containing the vibrospeaker 4 is fabricated by 3D-printing, this airtight/watertight space 3 is preferably connected to the sound box 11 with some solution according to prior art. Such connection solutions are e.g. threads and shape-locking connections. It is advantageous to provide the joint between the airtight/watertight space 3 and the sound box 11 also with a seal so that no water is able to collect inside the sound box. From the viewpoint of operation, however, it is not of the greatest importance that also the sound box 11 would be fully airtight/watertight, as is the interior space 3 of the vibrospeaker. Should any malfunctions occur in the operation of the vibrospeaker 4 and/or should the vibrospeaker otherwise need servicing and/or the vibrospeaker needs to be replaced, the space 3 containing the vibrospeaker can be opened and the necessary procedures performed. After servicing, the vibrospeaker 4 is installed back into its position and the seamless space 3 can be formed again by 3D-printing.

Fig. 2 presents a second embodiment of the solution according to the invention. The vibrospeaker 4 of the loudspeaker arrangement 1 is still enclosed in a seamless watertight space 3 and the water receptacle 5 is connected with threads to the top of the loudspeaker arrangement. In this embodiment the operating pushbutton 12 of the loudspeaker arrangement 1 is brought to the base of the bucket 2 with a trumpet- or horn- shaped arrangement. At the same time as the operating pushbutton 12 is brought to the base of the bucket 2, it is possible using the same structure to switch to wireless charging occurring via the base of the bucket and to bring the means plus wiring required for wireless charging into the proximity of the base of the bucket 2 inside the trumpet- like shaping. The thickness of the 3D-printed material is also in this embodiment fabricated to be sufficiently thin, at least in a part of the location of the operating pushbutton 12 and/or in the proximity of it, so that use of the operating pushbutton is trouble-free. This alternative embodiment can, of course, also be fabricated to comprise means for enabling wired charging.

Other applications of the waterproof loudspeaker arrangement 1 are e.g. a sauna pillow, in which can be fabricated by 3D-printing an airtight/watertight space 3 for the vibrospeaker 4 plus sound box 11, or which can be connected to a separately fabricated sound box 11 included in the structures of the sauna pillow. Similar solutions can be implemented with inter alia picnic baskets, cool boxes and other corresponding solutions by disposing the loudspeaker arrangement 1 on the base or lid of the product and/or on the side(s) of the product. What is essential is that a loudspeaker solution 1 for carefree use in demanding conditions is obtained by situating the vibrospeaker 4 in an airtight/watertight seamless space 3.

The solution of the invention enables the utilization of renewable and recyclable materials in consumer electronics and the sound reproduction apparatus can be made to be more stylish and more personalized. Owing to the 3D-printing, the sound reproduction apparatus can be connected with other household requisites, such as e.g. a sauna bucket or corresponding. The loudspeaker solution makes listening to media possible, e.g. in a sauna, which as an environment is essentially challenging for normal players owing to the heat and humidity.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited solely to the examples described above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.