Patents by Inventor Christopher E. Combest

Christopher E. Combest has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10972831
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MS ELECTRONICS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Patent number: 10869113
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be suspended from an elevated structure and spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: MS Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 10812884
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be suspended from an elevated structure and spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MS Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20200304893
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be suspended from an elevated structure and spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: MS Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20200280797
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: MS ELECTRONICS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Publication number: 20200228891
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: MS ELECTRONICS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Publication number: 20200228886
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be suspended from an elevated structure and spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: MS ELECTRONICS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 10694280
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: MS ELECTRONICS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Patent number: 10595120
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MS Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Patent number: 10448148
    Abstract: A speaker system broadly comprises a plurality of speaker assemblies each including a speaker housing, an input circuit, a low range speaker, and a higher-range speaker. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The low-range speaker is positioned in the upper section and the higher-range speaker is positioned in the lower section. Each speaker assembly is configured to be suspended from an elevated structure and spaced from the other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area. The speaker housings are compact while allowing the low-range speaker and higher-range speaker to effectively produce and project desired soundwaves from the suspended speaker housing into the listening area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MS Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Combest, Lindsey K. Humphrey, Kenneth Hecht
  • Patent number: 7636447
    Abstract: An acoustic bracket system comprising a bracket section containing an insert holder; coupling means connectable to the bracket section; and an insert securable to the insert holder and adapted to hold one or more acoustic transducers is provided. In one embodiment the coupling means comprises two flanges. In one embodiment the coupling means comprises a plurality of hooks. The acoustic bracket system is tunable and securable to framing members which are designed to support a sounding board. In one embodiment, the insert is a conformable foam insert with an opening into which each of the one or more acoustic transducers is securable. The acoustic bracket system is acoustically tunable with mass, stiffness and damping to enhance the audio performance of the one or more acoustic transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Saint-Vincent, John Koval, Christopher E. Combest
  • Publication number: 20040050617
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure (10) comprising a speaker box (12) having an opening (27) and adapted for mounting within a wall (20) upon a wall stud (22); a compressible gasket (14) affixed about the box opening (27); a faceplate (16); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms (18) for coupling the faceplate (16) with the box (12). The protruding, uncompressed gasket (14) is compressed by the faceplate (16) and the coupling mechanisms (18), which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate (16) and wall (20), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween. A spring (160) is provided to prevent over-compression of the gasket (14) due to heavy or low frequency speakers, thereby facilitating maintaining the uniform degree of separation; and a spacer (162) is provided to maintain the spring (160) in its operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Patent number: 6707919
    Abstract: A driver control circuit (10) that enhances a steep crossover slope while permitting selective shaping or adjusting of its in-band frequency response with a minimum number of components. The driver control circuit includes a signal connector (16) for connecting with a source of audio signals (12); a speaker connector (18) for connecting with a speaker (14); and a frequency passing circuit (20) coupled between the signal connector (16) and the speaker connector (18) for passing a selected range of frequencies of the audio signals to the speaker (14) and for attenuating other frequencies. The frequency passing circuit (20) includes components forming a traditional low-pass or high-pass filter network and a resistive component (R1) connected in parallel across the second series mounted component of the low-pass or high-pass filter network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventors: John Koval, Christopher E. Combest
  • Patent number: 6609589
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure (10) comprising a speaker box (12) having an opening (27) and adapted for mounting within a wall (20) upon a wall stud (22); a compressible gasket (14) affixed about the box opening (27); a faceplate (16); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms (18) for coupling the faceplate (16) with the box (12). The protruding, uncompressed gasket (14) is compressed by the faceplate (16) and the coupling mechanisms (18), which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate (16) and wall (20), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween. A spring (160) is provided to prevent over-compression of the gasket (14) due to heavy or low frequency speakers, thereby facilitating maintaining the uniform degree of separation; and a spacer (162) is provided to maintain the spring (160) in its operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Publication number: 20030141141
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure (10) comprising a speaker box (12) having an opening (27) and adapted for mounting within a wall (20) upon a wall stud (22); a compressible gasket (14) affixed about the box opening (27); a faceplate (16); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms (18) for coupling the faceplate (16) with the box (12). The protruding, uncompressed gasket (14) is compressed by the faceplate (16) and the coupling mechanisms (18), which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate (16) and wall (20), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween. A spring (160) is provided to prevent over-compression of the gasket (14) due to heavy or low frequency speakers, thereby facilitating maintaining the uniform degree of separation; and a spacer (162) is provided to maintain the spring (160) in its operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Patent number: 6550570
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure (10) comprising a speaker box (12) having an opening (27) and adapted for mounting within a wall (20) upon a wall stud (22); a compressible gasket (14) affixed about the box opening (27); a faceplate (16); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms (18) for coupling the faceplate (16) with the box (12). The uncompressed gasket (14) protrudes beyond the wall surface (26) until the faceplate (16) is brought into contact with and compresses the gasket (14) by the coupling mechanisms (18) which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate (16) and wall (20), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Patent number: 6484983
    Abstract: A mounting device (10) for mounting a speaker enclosure (12) in an elevated position at an intersection of two walls (14,16) or similar surfaces, wherein the device (10) facilitates easily locating supportive wall studs (18,20) underlying wall sheathings 22,24, and the device (10) is adapted to couple with and support the speaker enclosure (12) in such a manner as to allow for removing and replacing the speaker enclosure (12) from or on the device (10) without removing a corner bracket (26,226) component of the device (10) from the wall (14,16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Publication number: 20020092702
    Abstract: A speaker enclosure (10) comprising a speaker box (12) having an opening (27) and adapted for mounting within a wall (20) upon a wall stud (22); a compressible gasket (14) affixed about the box opening (27); a faceplate (16); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms (18) for coupling the faceplate (16)with the box (12). The uncompressed gasket (14) protrudes beyond the wall surface (26) until the faceplate (16) is brought into contact with and compresses the gasket (14) by the coupling mechanisms (18) which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate (16) and wall (20), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Patent number: 6415886
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an audio speaker within a wall such that the apparatus and speaker are attached to and supported by one or more wall studs and so that a face of the audio speaker is substantially flush with the wall. The apparatus broadly comprises a substantially rectangular box having a backwall and four upstanding sidewalls. One or more of the sidewalls is provided with an aperture, and inside the aperture is located a fixture assembly. The fixture assembly comprises a spacer mount through which is threaded a spacer having a bore. The spacer is threadably extendable and retractable, and can be extended to a length sufficient to contact the nearest wall stud. A fixture is then inserted into and through the bore in the spacer and is driven or screwed into the wall stud to as to secure the apparatus and speaker in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Multi Service Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Combest
  • Publication number: 20020076064
    Abstract: A driver control circuit (10) that enhances a steep crossover slope while permitting selective shaping or adjusting of its in-band frequency response with a minimum number of components. The driver control circuit includes a signal connector (16) for connecting with a source of audio signals (12); a speaker connector (18) for connecting with a speaker (14); and a frequency passing circuit (20) coupled between the signal connector (16) and the speaker connector (18) for passing a selected range of frequencies of the audio signals to the speaker (14) and for attenuating other frequencies. The frequency passing circuit (20) includes components forming a traditional low-pass or high-pass filter network and a resistive component (R1) connected in parallel across the second series mounted component of the low-pass or high-pass filter network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: John Koval, Christopher E. Combest