Abstract: Apparatus for use with an audio system in a vehicle. The apparatus comprises an enclosure with a reflective front surface and one or more speakers disposed within, protruding from, or disposed on a rear surface thereof that are coupled to the audio system. The speakers are sized and tailored to image and reflect sound off of the windshield to occupants of the vehicle to provide for reproduction of the audio output from the audio system. Tailoring the frequency response of the speakers to the reflective characteristics of the windshield and to the acoustic characteristics of the of the passenger compartment of the vehicle permits optimization of the mid and high frequency sound output of the audio system. Audio signals may be coupled to the speakers by wires or FM transmission.

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.