Patents by Inventor Mark A. Blanchard

Mark A. Blanchard 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: 10757518
    Abstract: Apparatuses that operate as both a public address speaker and a wireless access point (AP) for mounting to a ceiling or wall. The compact public address access points described herein may include an AP housing, enclosing a radio (e.g., a 3×3 MIMO radio) and antenna, that is coupled to a speaker assembly including a speaker, a conical acoustic reflector positioned between a front of the speaker and the housing of the AP, and an annular region comprising a concave inner wall facing the conical acoustic reflector. Although the AP is nested atop the front of the speaker, the speaker may produce high-quality sound with accurate voice reproduction without interfering with the operation of the wireless transmission of the AP. Methods of operating and installing these apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ubiquiti Inc.
    Inventors: Jude Lee, Mark A. Blanchard, Robert J. Pera
  • Publication number: 20190069108
    Abstract: Apparatuses that operate as both a public address speaker and a wireless access point (AP) for mounting to a ceiling or wall. The compact public address access points described herein may include an AP housing, enclosing a radio (e.g., a 3×3 MIMO radio) and antenna, that is coupled to a speaker assembly including a speaker, a conical acoustic reflector positioned between a front of the speaker and the housing of the AP, and an annular region comprising a concave inner wall facing the conical acoustic reflector. Although the AP is nested atop the front of the speaker, the speaker may produce high-quality sound with accurate voice reproduction without interfering with the operation of the wireless transmission of the AP. Methods of operating and installing these apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jude LEE, Mark A. BLANCHARD, Robert J. PERA
  • Patent number: 10136233
    Abstract: Apparatuses that operate as both a public address speaker and a wireless access point (AP) for mounting to a ceiling or wall. The compact public address access points described herein may include an AP housing, enclosing a radio (e.g., a 3×3 MIMO radio) and antenna, that is coupled to a speaker assembly including a speaker, a conical acoustic reflector positioned between a front of the speaker and the housing of the AP, and an annular region comprising a concave inner wall facing the conical acoustic reflector. Although the AP is nested atop the front of the speaker, the speaker may produce high-quality sound with accurate voice reproduction without interfering with the operation of the wireless transmission of the AP. Methods of operating and installing these apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jude Lee, Mark A. Blanchard, Robert J. Pera
  • Publication number: 20170078810
    Abstract: Apparatuses that operate as both a public address speaker and a wireless access point (AP) for mounting to a ceiling or wall. The compact public address access points described herein may include an AP housing, enclosing a radio (e.g., a 3×3 MIMO radio) and antenna, that is coupled to a speaker assembly including a speaker, a conical acoustic reflector positioned between a front of the speaker and the housing of the AP, and an annular region comprising a concave inner wall facing the conical acoustic reflector. Although the AP is nested atop the front of the speaker, the speaker may produce high-quality sound with accurate voice reproduction without interfering with the operation of the wireless transmission of the AP. Methods of operating and installing these apparatuses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jude LEE, Mark A. BLANCHARD, Robert J. PERA
  • Patent number: 9584895
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a teardrop curve lateral cross section running from approximately the upper end to the lower end. An inner body extends internally from the upper end within a hollow interior defined by the flange toward the lower end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body. The flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9369792
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a circular lateral cross-section. The annular flange is defined by a plurality of sections and each section has a varying wall thickness. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 9088846
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a non-circular lateral cross-section generally in the shape of an oval. The annular flange has a varying wall thickness from a first set of opposite sides of the annular flange to a second set of opposite sides of the annular flange. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20150047650
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a circular lateral cross-section. The annular flange is defined by a plurality of sections and each section has a varying wall thickness. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20150049897
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a teardrop curve lateral cross section running from approximately the upper end to the lower end. An inner body extends internally from the upper end within a hollow interior defined by the flange toward the lower end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body. The flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20150049896
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a non-circular lateral cross-section generally in the shape of an oval. The annular flange has a varying wall thickness from a first set of opposite sides of the annular flange to a second set of opposite sides of the annular flange. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8238596
    Abstract: An earphone is disclosed that is used in connection with reproducing audio sounds that are supplied from an audio-frequency source. The earphone includes a housing that includes a boot assembly positioned in the housing. A first audio driver is positioned in the boot assembly such that a first output of the first audio driver is in acoustic communication with a mixing chamber. A second audio driver is also positioned in the boot assembly such that a second output of the second audio driver is in acoustic communication with a chamber in the boot assembly. A tubular needle is positioned in the boot assembly having a first end in acoustic communication with the chamber and a second end in acoustic communication with the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Blanchard, Bradley C. Geswein
  • Patent number: 8201561
    Abstract: An improved ear tip for earphones and hearing protection is provided where comfort and occlusion of the ear are of most importance. The ear tip comprises an elastomer polymer resin material molded to form the material to the shape of the ear canal. A chamber is defined having a proximal and distal end, the distal end engages the acoustic exit of the transducer, sound source or sound attenuator and the proximal end of the bore is adapted to be disposed adjacent an eardrum. The inner body attaches to a nozzle, or audio playback orifice to naturally transition the acoustics from the transducer or sound attenuator to the eardrum via the ear canal. The ear tip can have a plurality of flexible annular flanges disposed at spaced intervals of the body with decreasing circumference as the flanges transition to the proximal end. Each flange tapers in a radius or curvilinear geometry as it progresses to the end of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20100310106
    Abstract: An earphone is disclosed that is used in connection with reproducing audio sounds that are supplied from an audio-frequency source. The earphone includes a housing that includes a boot assembly positioned in the housing. A first audio driver is positioned in the boot assembly such that a first output of the first audio driver is in acoustic communication with a mixing chamber. A second audio driver is also positioned in the boot assembly such that a second output of the second audio driver is in acoustic communication with a chamber in the boot assembly. A tubular needle is positioned in the boot assembly having a first end in acoustic communication with the chamber and a second end in acoustic communication with the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Mark A. Blanchard, Bradley C. Geswein
  • Publication number: 20100084217
    Abstract: An improved ear tip for earphones and hearing protection is provided where comfort and occlusion of the ear are of most importance. The ear tip comprises an elastomer polymer resin material molded to form the material to the shape of the ear canal. A chamber is defined having a proximal and distal end, the distal end engages the acoustic exit of the transducer, sound source or sound attenuator and the proximal end of the bore is adapted to be disposed adjacent an eardrum. The inner body attaches to a nozzle, or audio playback orifice to naturally transition the acoustics from the transducer or sound attenuator to the eardrum via the ear canal. The ear tip can have a plurality of flexible annular flanges disposed at spaced intervals of the body with decreasing circumference as the flanges transition to the proximal end. Each flange tapers in a radius or curvilinear geometry as it progresses to the end of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7681577
    Abstract: An improved ear tip for earphones and hearing protection is provided where comfort and occlusion of the ear are of most importance. The ear tip comprises an elastomer polymer resin material molded to form the material to the shape of the ear canal. A chamber is defined having a proximal and distal end, the distal end engages the acoustic exit of the transducer, sound source or sound attenuator and the proximal end of the bore is adapted to be disposed adjacent an eardrum. The inner body attaches to a nozzle, or audio playback orifice to naturally transition the acoustics from the transducer or sound attenuator to the eardrum via the ear canal. The ear tip can have a plurality of flexible annular flanges disposed at spaced intervals of the body with decreasing circumference as the flanges transition to the proximal end. Each flange tapers in a radius or curvilinear geometry as it progresses to the end of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Klipsch, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: D611929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Klipsch, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: D613726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Klipsch, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Blanchard, Bradley C. Geswein, Thomas E. Gospel, Glen D. Fuller
  • Patent number: D624901
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: D637181
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen D. Fuller, Mark A. Blanchard, Thomas E. Gospel, Bradley C. Geswein
  • Patent number: D781818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Pera, Mark A. Blanchard, Jude Lee