1. Field of the Invention.
This invention generally relates to the field of loudspeakers. In particular, the invention relates to a system capable of latching the loudspeaker housing within a surface.
2. Related Art.
Installing a loudspeaker into a surface such as a wall and/or ceiling generally includes cutting an opening into the surface to insert the loudspeaker housing into the opening. The loudspeaker housing may be flush against the surface and have a recessed area to receive a baffle that covers the opening and loudspeaker housing. The baffle may incorporate at least one loudspeaker. The loudspeaker housing may be first secured in the surface and then the baffle (with at least one loudspeaker) may be secured to the loudspeaker housing.
At present, mounting a loudspeaker housing within a surface generally includes placing the loudspeaker housing within an opening in the surface and attaching the loudspeaker housing to the opening. Attaching typically involves utilizing some type of attaching means such as screws, nails or adhesive. However, this approach is difficult because it requires the loudspeaker to be placed into proper position within the opening in the surface and to be properly attached to the opening while maintaining the proper position. Additionally, this approach is generally inflexible and permanent in nature because once the loudspeaker housing is attached to the opening it is difficult to reposition the loudspeaker housing or remove it without significant effort or potential damage to the surface. Therefore, there is also a need for a mounting mechanism that is capable of easily mounting a loudspeaker housing within a surface.
This invention provides a spring loaded mounting mechanism for easily mounting and removing a loudspeaker housing within an opening in a surface. A shaft is connected to the loudspeaker housing. Attached to the shaft is a spring loaded mounting mechanism. The spring loaded mounting mechanism includes a spring actuated arm member that has a beginning or open position. When the spring actuated arm member comes in contact with the side wall of the surface, the spring actuated arm member compresses inward toward the housing. Once the housing is positioned far enough in the opening, the spring loaded arm loses contact with the side wall of the surface and expands back to its original open position. When expanded to the open position, the arm aligns with the back side of the surface surrounding the opening. This locks the housing into place within the opening of the surface.
The interface between the spring actuated arm and the back side or face of the surface surrounding the opening may be tightened or loosened by adjusting the positioning of the shaft. The shaft may be designed as a threaded shaft that may be rotated to tighten or loosen the position of the mounting mechanism relative to the housing and/or the back face of the surface surrounding the opening.
The back panel of the housing may be open. To remove the housing, the spring actuated arm may be moved away from the back face of the surface surrounding the opening by compressing the arm inward toward the housing. The arm may be compressed inward through the use of a device or by the hand of a user.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
As will be illustrated in more detail below, each mounting mechanism 105 includes a mounting clip 112 that is retained within the recesses 110 of the housing 104 by a shaft 114. The recesses 110 extend inward toward the interior of the housing 104.The shaft 114 may be positioned through an opening 116 at the top of the recess 110 such that the shaft 114 extends downward into the recess 110 to engage the mounting clip 112. The shaft 114 may be a threaded screw that may be rotated to adjust the positioning of the mounting mechanism 105 along the recess 110. For example, sub-view A shows an extended position 106 of the mounting mechanism 105 within the recess 110 and sub-view B shows a retracted position 108 of the mounting mechanism 105 along the recess 110 of the housing 104. As will be explained in more detail below, sub-view A generally represents the position of the mounting mechanism 105 prior to its placement within an opening. Sub-view B generally represents the general position of the mounting mechanism 105 after it has been positioned within the opening. When positioned within the opening, the outer edge of the mounting clip 112 is positioned just behind the back face of the surface surrounding the opening. Moving the mounting mechanism 105 to its retracted position brings the edge of the mounting clip 112 closer to the back face of the surface so that it may engage the back face of the surface and securely maintain the housing 104 within the opening in the surface.
In comparison,
The shaft 114 is connected to the loudspeaker housing 104 and the mounting clip 112. The shaft 114 may be any structural element capable of moving the mounting clip 112 rearward and forward relative to the face 136 of the surface 122. The shaft 114 generally functions to extend or retract the mounting clip 112 along the recess 110 of the loudspeaker housing 104 relative to the face 136 of the surface 122. The shaft 114 may include top and bottom limits 128 and 130. The top limit 128 and bottom limit 130 may act to limit the range of motion of the mounting mechanism 105 along the shaft 114. Examples of the top limit 128 and bottom limit 130 may include washers or other similar parts. The top limit 128 and bottom limit 130 may be part of the shaft 114 or separate parts connected to the shaft 114. As an example, the shaft 114 may be threaded similar to a screw. In this example, the mounting clip 112 may have an interface section 138 that is connected to the shaft 114. The interface section 138 may be part of the mounting clip 112 or a separate part that is connected to the shaft 114 and the mounting clip 112 via the spring mechanism 132. In an example operation of the mounting mechanism 105, the mounting clip 112 may move rearward along the shaft 114 in response to rotating the shaft 114 in one example direction and forward along shaft 114 in response to rotating the shaft 114 in the opposite direction. In the example of a threaded shaft 114, the shaft 114 may have a shaft head 140, such as a screw head, capable of rotating the shaft 114. The shaft 114 may be partially or totally composed of teflon®, nylon, delrin®, wood rubber, metal, plastic, fiberglass, epoxy resin, or any other similar structural, material capable of providing structural rigidity.
Removal of the loudspeaker housing 104 from the opening 120 is accomplished in a similar manner as the insertion of the housing 104 in the opening 120. If the mounting clip 112 has been tightly secured against the back face 144 of the surface 122, prior to removing the housing 104, it may be desirable to extend the mounting clip 112 rearward, away from the back face 144 of the surface 122 by adjusting the shaft 114. Once the mounting clip 112 has been moved away from the back face 144 of the surface 122, the mounting clip 112 may be compressed in toward the loudspeaker housing 104 by a device or the hand of a user. The back of the housing 104 may be open, as illustrated in
While any type of spring mounted mechanism capable of compressing when inserted into the opening and expanding to interface with the back face or side of the surrounding surface may utilized,
The mounting clip 112 may further include an attachment edge 146 located at the top edge or tip of the mounting clip 112 for engaging the back face 144 of the surface 122 surrounding the opening 120. As illustrated, the attachment edge 146 may be formed to have grooves 168 or teeth to help secure the top edge of the mounting clip 112 to the back face 144 of the surface 122. As previously discussed, the mounting clip 112 may be partially or totally composed of teflon®, nylon, delrin®, wood, rubber, metal, plastic, fiberglass, epoxy resin, or any other similar structural material capable of providing structural rigidity.
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/399,791 filed on Jul. 31, 2002, which is incorporated into this application by reference.
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