Patent Application
20080044045
The objects and features of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
In the preferred embodiment, a recess 30 is formed on base 22 of terminal cup 20. A pair of terminal connectors 40 is located in recess 30. Terminal connectors 40 extend between exterior 24 and interior 26 of terminal cup 20. In the preferred embodiment, terminal connectors 40 are comprised of a separate exterior portion, shown in
A fuse receptacle 50 is located on base 22 of terminal cup 20. In the preferred embodiment, fuse receptacle 50 is removably attached to terminal cup 20 to permit interchangeability with multiple fuse types, such as AGU, MAXI, ANL, or another type of fuse. A fuse 60 is shown inserted into fuse receptacle 50. Fuse 60 as illustrated is a MAXI type fuse.
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The present invention discloses a novel speaker connection device. Unique to this invention, speaker assembly 10 includes fused terminal cup 20 having fuse receptacle 50 for receiving fuse 60 in a manner which permits access to fuse 60 from the outside of speaker assembly 10. In the preferred embodiment, base 22 is dimensioned to cover a corresponding opening in speaker enclosure 14.
On terminal cup 20, terminal connectors 40 extend from exterior 24 of base 22 to interior 26 of base 22. In a preferred embodiment, terminal connectors 40 are comprised of a separate exterior portion that is electrically connected to an internal portion, or terminal strips 42. In a preferred embodiment, terminal connectors 40 are connected to terminal strips 42 by terminal fasteners 44. This configuration permits interchangeability of different types of terminal connectors 40 for attachment to terminal cup 20.
Terminal connectors 40 may be any type of connector suitable for securing speaker wires in electrical connection. Various types of connectors are commonly known and commercially available, such as RCA connectors, spring-clip or push-type, banana plug, and screw on.
Fuse receptacle 50 is located on terminal cup 20. Fuse receptacle 20 is adapted to receive removable fuse 60 in electrical connection with fuse connectors 56. In the preferred embodiment, fuse receptacle 50 is removably attached to terminal cup 20. This configuration permits interchangeability of different types of fuse receptacles 50 as compatible with the selected fuse 60 type for the application, such as AGU, MAXI, ANL, or another type of fuse.
In a preferred embodiment, base 22 has fastener holes 34 for receiving fasteners 36 to secure fastener receptacle 58 to fuse receptacle 50. Attaching fasteners 36 in this manner secures fuse receptacle 50 to base 22 of terminal cup 20. Removal of fasteners 36 permits removal of fuse receptacle 50 for interchanging with a fuse receptacle 50 of a different type. When secured to base 22, opening 54 of fuse receptacle 50 is aligned with slot 32 of base 22 to permit insertion of fuse 60.
One of fuse connectors 56 is electrically connectable to one of terminal connectors 40. In this manner, fuse 60 is placed in the electrical circuit between terminal connectors 40 and speaker 12. If the amplifier power to speaker 12 exceeds the rating of fuse 60, fuse 60 will burn, resulting in disconnection of the electrical circuit and termination of electrical power supplied to speaker 12. In this manner, the speaker and speaker components are protected. This can be a relatively frequent occurrence when custom subwoofer speaker assemblies are used. The unique benefit of this design is that fuse 60 can be removed and replaced without any need to disassemble speaker assembly 10. Another benefit is that a single unit terminal cup 20 can be installed in a single opening in speaker enclosure 14.
In a preferred embodiment, terminal connectors 40 are located in a recess 30. This configuration prevents interference of electrically connected terminal connectors 40 with other objects in the vicinity of outside 18 of speaker enclosure 14.
In another preferred embodiment, opening 54 of fuse receptacle 50 is aligned with slot 32 on base 22. Body 52 extends to the interior side 26 of terminal cup 20, on inside 16 of speaker enclosure 14. This configuration prevents interference of electrically connected fuse connectors 56 with other objects in the vicinity of outside 18 of speaker enclosure 14.
Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
