Acoustics – Diaphragm and enclosure – Reflex baffle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-05-29
Dang, Khanh (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Diaphragm and enclosure
Reflex baffle
C181S141000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237715
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a subwoofer assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a curved subwoofer assembly shaped and dimensioned for mounting within the wall of an aircraft fuselage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The current global community has made it possible for people from around the country, and around the world, to interact for both business and personal reasons. For many people, this requires that they spend considerable time traveling from one location to another location. More often than not, these people travel in aircraft.
Whether these people travel in private or commercial aircraft, they desire high quality entertainment during the many hours they spend within the confines of an aircraft. However, while high quality entertainment, for example, digital video with CD quality sound, is readily available for theater and home use, the weight and size requirements for use in aircraft make it very difficult to incorporate high fidelity systems within an aircraft. This problem is especially pronounced for audio speaker assemblies when one attempts to meet the size, weight and shape requirements for use in aircraft.
In the aircraft industry great priority is placed upon component weight and size reduction. In addition, spacing and positioning of the speaker assemblies is a great priority to those optimizing the operation of aircraft. The size, weight and shape of conventional terrestrial speaker assembly designs adversely affect range and payload. These concerns are notable when one attempts to make changes within smaller private jets. For example, a small increase in the weight carried by an aircraft results in a substantial increase in the fuel consumption of the aircraft. In addition, the limited space available within an aircraft dictates the use of any space within the aircraft be carefully considered by those responsible for ensuring the comfort of passengers.
Lightweight and compact audio speakers are currently available. These speakers, however, substantially compromise sound quality for reductions in size and weight. An individual wishing to add an audio system to an aircraft must make a choice between high fidelity speakers not suiting the size and weight requirements of the aircraft and lower quality speakers providing desirable size and weight characteristics.
A need, therefore, exists for a speaker assembly providing high fidelity sound, while also meeting the size and weight requirements of an aircraft. The present invention provides such a speaker assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a wall of an aircraft fuselage. The subwoofer assembly includes a subwoofer housing having a curved profile shaped to substantially conform to the wall of an aircraft fuselage. The subwoofer housing includes a sound port through which sound is delivered from the subwoofer assembly. The subwoofer assembly further includes a sound driver mounted withing the subwoofer housing.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly including a sound baffle directing sound generated by the driver to the sound port.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the sound baffle defines a sound space within the subwoofer housing that expands as the sound baffle extends toward the sound port.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the sound baffle includes a first baffle section which creates a sound space that expands as the sectional baffle toward the sound port.
It is also another object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the sectional baffle includes a second baffle section which couples the first baffle section to a third baffle section.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the third baffle section creates a sound space that expands as the third baffle section extends toward the sound port.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the subwoofer housing is made from aluminum.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a subwoofer assembly wherein the subwoofer housing includes a front curved wall and a rear curved wall connected by a plurality of side walls.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an aircraft having a fuselage including side walls, wherein at least one subwoofer assembly shaped and dimensioned for positioning within the wall of an aircraft fuselage is mounted within the side walls of the fuselage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an aircraft wherein the aircraft includes windows positioned along the side walls of the fuselage and the subwoofer assembly is mounted within the side walls of the fuselage between windows positioned along the side walls of the fuselage.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an aircraft including a sound conduit coupled to the sound port of the subwoofer assembly for directing sound generated by the subwoofer assembly into the passenger compartment of the aircraft.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for positioning a subwoofer assembly within an aircraft. The method is achieved by mounting a subwoofer assembly within a side wall of an aircraft fuselage such that the subwoofer is hidden from the view of a passenger compartment of the aircraft and directing sound from the subwoofer to the passenger compartment of the aircraft.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4392027 (1983-07-01), Bock
patent: 4572326 (1986-02-01), Hutchins
patent: 5394478 (1995-02-01), Hathaway et al.
patent: 5874695 (1999-02-01), Tracy
patent: 6076631 (2000-06-01), Hoenninger et al.
Dang Khanh
Welsh & Flaxman LLC
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