Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6735321
-
Patent Number
6,735,321
-
Date Filed
Thursday, April 4, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 11, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 248 343
- 362 365
- 381 333
- 381 334
- 381 336
- 381 345
- 381 386
- 381 387
- 381 388
- 381 389
- 381 395
- 381 189
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A loudspeaker enclosure is formed with fins that may be extended to support the enclosure on a surface and retracted into mating recesses to comprise a cosmetically appealing outer surface when the enclosure is suspended.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to loudspeaker enclosure mounting above listener, and more particularly concerns novel apparatus and techniques that allow the loudspeaker enclosure for use above the listener's location to be mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, or be flown from suspended cables while allowing the flown enclosure to have a pleasing cosmetic appearance.
Loudspeaker enclosures for use above the listener's location are typically mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, or flown from suspending cables. A typical prior art approach for maintaining a pleasing cosmetic appearance for a flown enclosure is to use an extra cosmetic casing to present a pleasing cosmetic appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an important object of the invention to provide a loudspeaker enclosure for use above the listener's location that can be readily mounted in a surface, such as the ceiling, and flown from suspending cables with a cosmetically pleasing appearance.
According to the invention, a loudspeaker enclosure includes foldable extendable fins that are extended when mounting in a surface, such as the ceiling, and retracted into mating recesses flush with the sides of the enclosure when flown from suspending cables.
Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the invention mounted in a ceiling panel with fins exposed;
FIG. 2
is pictorial view of the enclosure of
FIG. 1
flown from suspending cables with fins retracted to present a pleasing cosmetic appearance;
FIGS. 3A-3H
are illustrations helpful in understanding ceiling mounting;
FIG. 4
illustrates a tool being used for retracting and extending fins; and
FIG. 5
is an exploded view showing an alternate way of ceiling mounting with screws.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference now to the drawing and more particularly
FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown a pictorial view of a loudspeaker enclosure
10
mounted in a ceiling panel
11
. Loudspeaker enclosure
10
has four hinged fins, three of which
10
A,
10
B and
10
C, are visible in FIG.
1
. When retracted, the fins seat in mating recesses, such as
12
. Then, exposed surfaces of the fins are coextensive with the outer surface of the rest of the loudspeaker enclosure so that when flown, such as shown in
FIG. 2
, the enclosure presents a cosmetically pleasing surface.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, there is shown a pictorial view of loudspeaker enclosure
10
with fins
10
A,
10
B and
10
C retracted into the mating recesses, such as
12
, so that the flown or suspended enclosure has a continuous cosmetically pleasing surface when suspended from a ceiling with suspension assembly
13
.
Referring to
FIGS. 3A-3H
, there are shown illustrations helpful in understanding an approach for mounting enclosure
10
in the ceiling.
FIG. 3A
shows enclosure
10
with the four fins
10
A,
10
B,
10
C and
10
D extended.
FIG. 3B
shows how a template
14
may be removed from a carton containing enclosure
10
and used in
FIG. 3D
with a pencil to mark the outline for cutting an opening in panel
11
with saw
15
.
FIG. 3E
shows mounting enclosure
10
in the opening in a panel to be placed over panel
11
with fins
10
A,
10
B and
10
C extended and resting a panel
12
for bridging ceiling tile
11
.
FIG. 3G
shows installation of the grill cover over the loudspeaker enclosure, and
FIG. 3H
shows aligning the central logo to be parallel to one pair of opposed edges of ceiling tile
11
and perpendicular to the other.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, there is an illustration of how a tool
16
attached to the axle of a fin, such as
10
A, may be used to retract and extend the fins. Initially the fins may be fully retracted to allow loudspeaker enclosure
10
to pass through the circular opening in the ceiling tile
11
and then extended with tool
16
so that the fins rest on ceiling tile
11
or bridging panel
12
and keep enclosure
10
in position.
Referring to
FIG. 5
, there is shown an exploded pictorial view showing an alternate way of securing enclosure
10
with screws, such as
16
, engaging fins, such as
10
A and
10
C and ceiling tile
11
′ secured to cross members
17
with screws, such as
18
.
There has been described novel apparatus and techniques for a ceiling enclosure having fins for use in securing the enclosure to a ceiling tile while allowing retraction of the fins into mating recesses to present a cosmetically pleasing surface when the enclosure is flown or hung from a suspension assembly. It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific apparatus and techniques herein disclosed without departing from the inventive concept. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novel feature and novel combination of features present in or possessed by the apparatus and techniques herein disclosed and limited solely by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A loudspeaker enclosure suitable for mounting in a surface and flown from suspending cables comprising,a cylindrical loudspeaker enclosure having a plurality of fins that may be seated in mating recesses to then comprise a cosmetically pleasing outside wall, said fins being selectively movable between an extended position when above a ceiling surface and a retracted position seated in a mating recess when suspended by a suspension assembly.
- 2. A loudspeaker enclosure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said enclosure is of circular cross section.
- 3. A loudspeaker enclosure in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising said ceiling surface formed with an opening corresponding substantially to the cross section of said enclosure with said fins retracted,said fins being extended and resting above said ceiling surface.
- 4. A loudspeaker enclosure in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising said suspension assembly,said fins being retracted in a respective mating recess.
- 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 and further comprising fasteners securing said enclosure to said ceiling surface.
US Referenced Citations (8)