Acoustics – Sound-modifying means – Housing or enclosure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-01-23
Dang, Khanh (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Sound-modifying means
Housing or enclosure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176346
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to audio speakers. More particularly, this invention relates to lightweight, portable, nesting stereo speakers.
2. State of the Art
Sound quality is important in the design of sound reproducing systems, such as speakers used in concert halls, home stereo systems, and portable stereo systems. Further, size, shape, weight, and portability are also important. The size and shape and ultimate weight of the entire speaker system is often driven by the speaker sound quality requirements. Sound quality and other acoustical resonance related characteristics are enhanced by having an enclosed air volume behind the speaker driver. In general, the optimal size of the enclosure will depend on the size and specifications of the speaker driver. Generally, for space and weight constrained sound systems including boomboxes and portable stereos, the smaller speaker drivers are mounted within a relatively small housing or enclosure which provides less than ideal quality sound reproduction. To improve the sound quality, using a larger driver, and hence a larger enclosure, is preferable. For large speaker drivers i.e., those used for public address, concert, or stadium sound systems, optimal quality sound reproduction requires using relatively large high-fidelity speaker drivers and mounting them within relatively large enclosures. Toward this end, the large high-fidelity speaker drivers are generally mounted within large rectangular substantially hollow boxes formed from wood, pressed board, or hard plastic. Although such enclosures are quite sturdy, they are generally heavy, bulky, and cumbersome. Further, they often require great strength and effort to move and install, require sturdy supports to mount on speaker stands, and pose certain dangers when mounted overhead. Still further, the speaker drivers are quite generally delicate and easily damaged. When used in touring events, these large speaker systems can require numerous trucks to transport them from event to event and careful handling to protect them. When not in use, they require a large storage facility. Collapsible speaker enclosures have been designed which alleviate some of the bulkiness and difficulties related to storage and transport of these large speaker assemblies. However, the weight of the collapsible speaker assemblies remain the same whether in the extended or collapsed state. Further, many of the prior art collapsible speaker assemblies are complex to assemble and dismantle, having numerous parts which can be lost or damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a portable speaker assembly which is lightweight, portable, and compact and which has good sound quality.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable speaker assembly which requires minimal freight or storage volume yet which has a desirable air chamber volume behind the speaker.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable speaker assembly which is easily assemblable and disassemblable.
In accord with these objects, which will be discussed in detail below, a speaker assembly includes a speaker mounting element having a face defining a speaker driver mounting opening, and having two pair of opposing sides, at least one speaker driver mounted in the speaker driver mounting opening, and a hollow open-front enclosure, substantially defining a cavity, coupled to the speaker mounting element. The open-front enclosure is preferably shaped as a truncated polyhedron (e.g. a truncated pyramid) having a first end and a second end. The first end of the open-front enclosure substantially defines an opening into the cavity. The second end of the open-front enclosure is substantially closed. The speaker mounting element is shaped substantially similarly to the first end of the open-front enclosure.
According to both the first and second embodiments of the invention, either of the pair of opposing sides of the speaker mounting element and the first end of the open-front enclosure are provided with any of a variety of cooperating coupling structures such that the two may be detachably coupled. A securing device may also be secured about the structure to apply an inward pressure or force further coupling the speaker mounting element to the open-front enclosure. When assembled, the speaker mounting element and the open-front enclosure substantially enclose the cavity, which acts as a resonance air chamber behind the speaker driver. According to the invention, when disassembled, one open-front enclosure substantially nests within a cavity of another open-front enclosure.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the speaker mounting elements are adapted to be stacked and stored within a cavity of a nested open-front enclosure. To facilitate stacking and storing, edges of the front of the speaker mounting element are provided with a projection adapted to loosely engage a corresponding indentation in a terminal end of the sides of the speaker mounting elements. The couplings allow for safely stacking a plurality of speaker mounting elements in a front to rear relation without damaging speaker drivers contained therein. The plurality of stacked speaker mounting elements are then safely stored within the cavity of a first open-front enclosure. Alternately or additionally, a cap adapted to fit over the front face of a first of a plurality of speaker mounting elements and a rear of a second of a plurality of speaker mounting elements may be provided to maintain a first and a second of a plurality of speaker mounting elements in a front to back relation when stored within a cavity of an open-front enclosure. Alternately, a two piece stacking structure having a first piece and a second piece having a plurality of channels adapted to fit over opposing sides of a plurality of speaker mounting elements and maintain them a distance apart in a front to back relation is used to protect the speaker mounting elements and speaker drivers when stored within a cavity of an open-front enclosure.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2036832 (1936-04-01), Scheldorf
patent: 5416284 (1995-05-01), Steele et al.
patent: 5550926 (1996-08-01), Tsao
Dang Khanh
Gallagher Thomas A
Gordon David P.
Jacobson David S.
LandOfFree
Nesting speaker assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Nesting speaker assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nesting speaker assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468007