Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With severing – removing material from preform mechanically,... – Making hole or aperture in article
Reexamination Certificate
1995-03-21
2001-05-01
Ortiz, Angela (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With severing, removing material from preform mechanically,...
Making hole or aperture in article
C264S252000, C264S265000, C264S273000, C264S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224801
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to transducers and particularly to a method of making a loudspeaker and a loudspeaker made by the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved technique for forming the surround and joining the diaphragm to the surround.
Loudspeakers incorporating molded components are known. There are, for example, the loudspeakers illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,997,023 and 5,319,718. U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,023 employs an injection molded surround attached to the speaker frame and diaphragm by suitable adhesives. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,718, a conventional diaphragm is provided with a closed-cell polyurethane foam surround by placing the diaphragm in a mold, depositing uncured foamable urethane around the perimeter of the diaphragm, closing the mold and permitting the foamable urethane to foam and cure in a cavity formed by the mold around the perimeter of the diaphragm. The urethane impregnates the exposed outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm, bonding it to the diaphragm, and forms a closed cell outer skin as it cures.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of making a speaker comprises providing a pair of dies which define between them a cavity. A first portion of the cavity is for receiving a diaphragm of the speaker. A second portion of the cavity adjacent an outer perimeter of the diaphragm when it is placed in the cavity receives a fluid thermoplastic elastomer for forming a diaphragm surround. The second portion includes a perimetrally inner first region adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm for receiving the thermoplastic elastomer to form a perimetrally inner flange for bonding to the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. The second portion includes a central second region for receiving the thermoplastic elastomer to form a connecting arch of the surround when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. The second portion also includes a perimetrally outer third region for receiving the thermoplastic elastomer to form a perimetrally outer flange for attachment to a diaphragm support when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. A diaphragm is placed between the dies. The dies are closed. An amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion is introduced into the cavity, and is permitted to solidify.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the step of providing a second portion including a perimetrally inner first region for receiving the fluid thermoplastic elastomer to form a perimetrally inner flange comprises providing a second portion including a perimetrally inner region for receiving the fluid thermoplastic elastomer to form a first perimetrally inner flange for bonding to a first side of the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm and a second perimetrally inner flange for bonding to a second side of the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm.
Further according to an illustrative embodiment, at least one first notch is formed in the outer perimeter of the diaphragm. The step of introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion includes introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the at least one first notch.
According to another illustrative embodiment, at least one opening is formed through the diaphragm between first and second sides thereof adjacent but spaced from the outer perimeter thereof. The step of introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion includes introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the at least one opening.
Additionally according to an illustrative embodiment, the step of providing a second portion including a perimetrally inner first region and a central second region comprises the step of providing at least one second notch extending between the perimetrally inner first region and the central second region. The step of introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion includes introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the at least one second notch.
According to an illustrative embodiment, the step of providing a second portion including a central second region and a perimetrally outer third region comprises the step of providing at least one third notch extending between the central second region and the perimetrally outer third region. The step of introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion includes introducing into the cavity an amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the at least one third notch.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of making a speaker comprises providing a pair of dies which define between them a cavity. A first portion of the cavity receives a diaphragm of the speaker. A second portion of the cavity adjacent an outer perimeter of the diaphragm when it is placed in the cavity receives a fluid thermoplastic elastomer for forming a diaphragm surround. The second portion includes a perimetrally inner first region adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm for receiving the fluid thermoplastic elastomer to form a first perimetrally inner flange for bonding to a first side of the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm and a second perimetrally inner flange for bonding to a second side of the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. The second portion further includes a central second region for receiving the fluid thermoplastic elastomer from a connecting arch of the surround when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. The second portion also includes a perimetrally outer third region for receiving the fluid thermoplastic elastomer to form a perimetrally outer flange for attachment to a diaphragm support when the fluid thermoplastic elastomer is introduced into the cavity. A diaphragm is placed between the dies. The dies are closed. An amount of the fluid thermoplastic elastomer sufficient to fill the second portion is introduced into the cavity. The thermoplastic elastomer is permitted to solidify.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of making a speaker comprises providing a pair of dies which define between them a cavity. A first portion of the cavity receives a diaphragm of the speaker. A second portion of the cavity adjacent an outer perimeter of the diaphragm when it is placed in the cavity receives a moldable material for forming a diaphragm surround. The second portion includes a perimetrally inner first region adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm for receiving the moldable material to form a perimetrally inner flange for bonding to the diaphragm adjacent the outer perimeter of the diaphragm when the moldable material is introduced into the cavity. The second portion further includes a central second region for receiving the moldable material to form a connecting arch of the surround when the moldable material is introduced into the cavity. The second portion also includes a perimetrally outer third region for receiving the moldable material to form a perimetrally outer flange for attachment to a diaphragm support when the moldable material is introduced into the cavity. A diaphragm is placed between the dies. The dies are closed. An amount of the moldable material sufficient to fill the second portion is introduced into the cavity. The moldable material is permitted to solidify. The step of providing a second portion including a perimetrally inner first region and a central second region comprises the step of providing at least one
Barnes & Thornburg
Harman International Industries Incorporated
Ortiz Angela
LandOfFree
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