Patent Application
20210014588
The invention to which this application relates is to an improvement in the form of a support apparatus, hereinafter referred to in a non-limiting manner as a stand, for use in supporting an item located thereon at a distance from a support surface. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the stand is for use in supporting an item in the form of an audio speaker, at a desired position with respect to a support surface, such as the floor of a room or a surface of an item o inf furniture.
The provision of speaker stands is well-known and it is also well-known that the particular design of stands can vary in terms of the material used to form the same, the particular appearance of the same aesthetically and/or as a result of attempting to provide a particular performance characteristic. Conventionally, there is a general appreciation that the speaker stand should be relatively rigid so as to provide a secure mechanical support for the speaker and also to enhance, or at least not deteriorate, certain performance characteristics for the speaker, such as helping the speaker resist the counter forces generated by the speaker cone or cones moving backward and forward as it pushes against air, and/or to minimise the effect of vibration and energy transfer into the supporting structure of the speaker stand.
One known form of improving performance is to provide the speaker stand with a relatively secure contact with the support surface upon which the same is positioned so as to allow vibrations and/or energy to pass from the speaker via the stand and into the support surface and be dissipated away from the speaker. A common way of achieving this is to provide, at the base of the speaker stand, a plurality of spikes which pass into the support surface.
Although, as stated above, there may be many different designs of speaker stands, it is most commonly the case that all speaker stands include the use of metal or wooden members, typically formed of steel or wood, which are bolted or welded together to form the speaker stand. The speaker stand will also typically comprise the base portion and one or more elongate members depending from the base upwardly to a speaker mount plate and onto which the speaker is placed and/or secured.
The particular distance of the elongate members between the base and the mounting plate can vary for aesthetic appearance requirements, and/or performance requirements.
In whichever format, it is typically the case that the elongate members, mounting plate and base are all permanently connected together either by welding the same or bolting the same together to form a unitary structure. A problem which still exists is that the relatively large surface area of the conventional stands base, mounting plate and upstanding members allow radiation of energy which can adversely affect the audio performance.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a stand of a form which is less bulky, has a reduced surface area and hence provides a reduction in radiating surfaces and to allow an increase in the audio performance of a speaker when in position on the stand, whilst maintaining the structural strength of the speaker.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a stand, the said stand including a series of relatively rigid elongate struts and a series of flexible elongate members, said elongate members and elongate struts mutually located such that when the stand is formed, the flexible elongate members are in tension and the elongate struts are in compression.
Typically the stand is provided to allow an audio speaker to be placed thereon so as to be supported in apposition for use at a location at a spaced distance from a support surface on which the stand is located. In one embodiment the support surface c an be a floor for a room, a surface of an item of furniture or any other surface which provides a secure support for the stand
In one embodiment, the said elongate struts are maintained in a non-direct contact configuration with respect to each other.
In one embodiment, the said elongate members each contact with a first and a second strut.
In one embodiment, each elongate member contacts with a first elongate strut at, or adjacent to, a base end of the same, a second elongate strut at or adjacent to a base end of the same, and the same strut, or a further strut, at or adjacent to the opposing speaker mounting end of the strut.
Typically, one end of the elongate member is held in a fixed position with respect to the first strut and the opposing end of the elongate member is adjustable with respect to its position in relation to the second or further strut at the speaker mounting end of the same. Typically, the ability to adjust the said elongate member is provided so as to allow the said stand to be moved from a storage position to its in use position and/or adjustment of the relative positions of the elongate members and/or tension of the elongate member.
Typically, the independent adjustment of each of the elongate members is possible.
In one embodiment, the adjustment of the respective elongate members is achieved via a pulley assembly which is connected to the elongate struts so as to be retained in a fixed position with respect thereto.
In one embodiment, the pulley assembly is mounted at the speaker mounting end of the stand and, in one embodiment, the speaker may be located directly on the pulley assembly or the struts or alternatively, a mounting plate is positioned intermediate the pulley assembly and the speaker and on which the speaker is located.
In one embodiment the pulley assembly includes a pulley wheel for each of the elongate members and the said pulley wheels are independently adjustable.
In one embodiment, the base ends of the elongate struts are provided with location means such as spikes, which allow the engagement of the speaker stand with a support surface.
In one embodiment, the relationship between the elongate struts and the elongate members are based on the principles of tensegrity.
In one embodiment, the elongate members are lengths of a flexible material such as lengths of stranded cable but it should be appreciated that any form of material which is flexible and has sufficient strength, could be used.
In one embodiment, the said speaker stand is moveable between storage and in use positions and typically, the storage position is used for the transport of the stand from a point of manufacture to a point of assembly whereupon the same can be moved to the in use position.
In one embodiment, the point of assembly is at the location of a retail outlet or at a location at which the stand is to be used, such as in commercial or domestic premises.
In one embodiment, when in the storage position, the struts and flexible elongate members are provided in a semi assembled interconnected condition such that when moved to the in use position, force is applied to the elongate members to tension the same in order to retain the struts, and hence the stand, in the in use position. Alternatively, the storage position can be the provision of a kit of the flexible elongate members, elongate struts, pulley assembly and a mounting plate which are required to be subsequently connected together and assembled to form the speaker stand.
In one embodiment the tension on each of the elongate members is created to a predetermined amount. In one embodiment the kit includes a torque wrench via which the tension can be applied to the flexible elongate members by operating the pulley assembly. In one embodiment the torque wrench is limited to create the predetermined tension and/or indicates when the predetermined tension has been applied.
In one embodiment one or more of the said elongate struts includes at least one aperture formed therein at a location intermediate the ends of the said elongate strut.
In one embodiment, each of the elongate struts includes a plurality of apertures formed therein at spaced intervals.
In one embodiment, the said apertures are formed and located at the same location on each of the elongate struts with respect to the distance from the ends of the elongate members. In one embodiment the location is substantially at the centre of the elongate strut with respect to the length of the same.
In one embodiment the apertures can be selectively positioned with respect to the respective struts.
In one embodiment this may require varying the positions of the apertures for each elongate strut. In one embodiment the selective locations for the apertures on respective elongate struts can lead to asymmetrical positions for the apertures and/or sizes and/or shapes on respective elongate struts.
In one embodiment, the apertures are formed as slots in that they have a longitudinal axis which is longer than width axis.
Typically, the said apertures pass completely through the elongate strut from one side to the opposing side.
In one embodiment, the size and/or shape of the aperture may be varied depending on the dimensions of the elongate strut in which the same is to be formed and/or the particular speaker design which is to be used with the said stand.
The provision of the apertures is aimed at detuning the struts and hence the stand and the provision of the apertures can allow resonance at certain frequencies, when audio signals were passed through the speaker located on the stand, to be eliminated or reduced. Tests using a test tone swept through the speaker were found to result in certain frequencies exciting the elongate struts with, in the tests, the most problematic frequency found to be in the range of ˜65 to 75 Hz depending on the weight of the loudspeaker and tensioning of the elongate members. At this frequency a maximum velocity/displacement was observed around the mid-point of the length of the elongate struts. Although several other modes were observed, these had significantly less amplitude as the tone increased in frequency. It was also observed that the acoustic output directly from the elongate struts is relatively inefficient relative to the direct sound of the loudspeaker, due to the elongate struts having relatively high mass and low radiating area. However, they can couple and impart structural vibration back into the loudspeaker (and support surface such as the floor) which can result in unwanted movement in the loudspeaker structure itself.
In one embodiment the stand includes a plurality of elongate struts held in a mutual configuration by a plurality of elongate members such that the ends of the elongate struts converge towards the end of the stand which is furthest removed from a support surface on which the stand is located for use.
Typically three elongate struts and three elongate members are provided to form the stand.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a speaker stand comprising a plurality of flexible elongate members and relatively rigid elongate struts which are provided in a mutual relationship in accordance with the principles of tensegrity.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a speaker stand assembly, said speaker stand comprising a speaker and a stand including a plurality of elongate struts and a support for the speaker thereon, said support and elongate struts retained in a predetermined configuration by flexible elongate members so as to provide support for the said speaker at a spaced distance from a support surface on which the base end of the elongate struts are located.
In one embodiment the struts of the stand include one or more apertures provided thereon.
In one embodiment the speaker and stand each have located therewith mounting means which match such that when the speaker and stand are brought into an in use position the said mounting means located with each other in a matching arrangement and allow the speaker to be securely located with the said stand. In one embodiment the mounting means include bolts which pass between the respective mounting means on the stand and the speaker.
Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein.
Referring now to the
The speaker stand is shown in an in use position and is provided with a base 6 for location on a support surface 4. The base of the speaker stand is provided with, and formed by a plurality of spiked feet portions 8 as shown and these act to allow the transfer of vibration to the support surface 4 from the speaker stand whilst, at the same time, providing strong mechanical connection between the speaker stand and the support surface 4. As shown in
In this embodiment, the mounting plate 12 is located on and attached to a pulley assembly 18 which, in turn, is located with the ends 20 of a series of relatively rigid elongate struts 22 which depend upwardly from the base 6.
The struts are provided in a configuration such that the same extend between the base 6 and the pulley assembly 18 and converge towards the end at which the speaker mounting plate and/or speaker is to be located, but the struts do not contact each other and, in the in use position, the struts are provided in compression and retained at the respective angular locations as shown.
The ability to retain the said struts in compression and at the required angular configuration without contact between the same is achieved by using a series of relatively flexible elongate members which, in this embodiment, are cables 24. Each of the cables extend between the base and the pulley assembly 18 and each of the cables has a first end 26 which in this embodiment, is engaged and retained at the base of one of elongate members 22 then passes to another of the elongate members and then to the pulley assembly, typically via a respective pulley wheel of the pulley assembly. This is illustrated with respect to one of the flexible elongate members 24′ shown in
The elongate members 24 are each required to be held in tension so as to maintain the struts 22 in compression and so ensure that the stand 2 is of the required strength and stability. The appropriate level of tension can be applied to the elongate members 24 by linear adjustment of the respective pulley wheel as indicated by arrows 38 with respect to the pulley assembly body 40. When the required tension is reached, then each of the elongate members are retained in that position at the pulley assembly and hence the struts 22 are retained in their respective positions.
It should be appreciated that the same inventive concept as described with regard to
Referring now to
Also shown in accordance with this embodiment of the invention is the fact that the elongate struts, in this embodiment each of them, include apertures and in this embodiment, each strut includes two slotted apertures 122. The apertures pass from a first side of the elongate strut 104,106,108 to the opposing side of the elongate strut so as to form a passage through the elongate strut. A particular shape and configuration of the aperture and/or number of apertures on each elongate strut can be selected to suit the particular elongate strut size and shape and/or a particular speaker to be used with the speaker stand as the provision of the apertures is aimed at allowing any distortion of sound which may occur at a particular frequency range when the speaker is located on the stand and is in use, to be reduced or removed as is now described.
The provision of the selective positioning of the apertures allows the resonance characteristics of the strut and hence stand to be moved to a lower frequency, outside the excitation range of the speaker by reducing the bending stiffness of the elongate struts. One or multiple apertures 122 can be used and the apertures are selectively positioned along the elongate struts to optimise performance.
Simulation tests were performed with the aim being to reduce the overall velocity in the legs and minimise the displacement in the loudspeaker structure.
The simulation approximated the materialised embodiment of the stand in accordance with the invention as shown in
Thus the vibration observed in the stand when coupled to a loudspeaker has been resolved by employing, in this embodiment, two axial apertures in each of the elongate struts of the stand.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1804970.0 | Mar 2018 | GB | national |
| 1813164.9 | Aug 2018 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2019/050888 | 3/28/2019 | WO | 00 |
