This invention relates to providing ceiling panels that support audio speakers and that fit in narrow spaces in patterns having both narrow and larger or standard sized ceiling panels.
Ceiling panel speakers are used in suspended ceiling systems to provide audio for alarms, paging, music, and public announcements. Some ceiling panel systems use combinations of standard or large panels with narrow panels. For example, Armstrong® Techzone™ ceiling systems use combinations of narrow and large ceiling panels, but do not offer narrow panels that are speaker panels. Accordingly, there is an unmet need in the marketplace.
Therefore, a need exists for a narrow ceiling speaker panel that is compatible with legacy ceiling systems that use combinations of narrow and larger ceiling panels.
A primary object and feature of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems and fulfill the above-mentioned needs.
Another object and feature of the present invention is to provide a system of narrow ceiling speaker panels that are compatible with legacy systems.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a system that includes ceiling speaker panels that are lightweight and strong.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a system that includes ceiling speaker panels that can receive finishes compatible with legacy systems.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a system that includes ceiling speaker panels having a full range of edge style options, in keeping with legacy systems.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a system that includes ceiling speaker panels in a variety of sizes compatible with legacy systems.
It is an additional primary object and feature of the present invention to provide such a system that is efficient, inexpensive and handy. Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following descriptions.
A system including various narrow ceiling speaker panels for suspended ceiling systems using a variety of narrow and larger panels. Each panel includes a baffle supporting a speaker and associated electronics, such as a transformer. Support may be by fasteners, such as screws, through pre-drilled holes in the baffle. The baffle has an opening through which the sound from the supported speaker is directed. The baffle attaches on the top side to end flanges of a grill box and has a perimeter flange that envelops a bottom portion of the grill box. Attachment may be by fasteners, such as screws, through pre-drilled holes in the baffle and end flanges. The grill box has openings for power and signal lines to the speaker and associated electronics. A speaker grill has edge flanges that envelop and attach to the bottom side edge flanges of the baffle. Attachment may be by fasteners through pre-drilled holes in edge flanges of the speaker grill aligned with pre-drilled holes in edge flanges of the baffle.
In a particular embodiment, A ceiling panel loudspeaker including: a grill box having first and second end flanges extending from first and second bottom edges of respective first and second sides; a baffle having a perimeter flange sized to envelop a bottom portion of the grill box and having a speaker opening for aligning to an output portion of a loudspeaker; and a foraminous speaker grill: having a grill perimeter flange sized to envelop the baffle; and sized to fit within a narrow slot between suspended ceiling supports. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, further including the loudspeaker attached to a top side of the baffle and aligned to the speaker opening. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, further including electronics associated with the loudspeaker attached to the top side of the baffle and coupled to the loudspeaker. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the baffle is attached to the grill box using fasteners through the first and second end flanges. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill is attached to the baffle using fasteners through the grill perimeter flange and through the baffle perimeter flange. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill box further includes at least two openings for conducting power and signal cables to the electronics and the loudspeaker. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill box is formed from a single cut sheet of metal. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has a width for fitting the narrow slot and the width of the narrow slot includes either six inches or four inches. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has a length including either six inches, twelve inches, forty-two inches, forty-eight inches, fifty-four inches, sixty inches, or ninety-six inches. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has a decorative appearance.
A ceiling panel loudspeaker including: a grill box having: first and second end flanges extending from first and second bottom edges of respective first and second sides; and first and second cable openings; a baffle including a panel having: a perimeter flange sized to envelop a bottom portion of the grill box; a loudspeaker opening for aligning to an output portion of a loudspeaker; and a plurality of fastener openings proximate each loudspeaker opening; and a foraminous speaker grill: having a grill perimeter flange sized to envelop the baffle; and sized to fit within a narrow slot between suspended ceiling supports. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, further including: the loudspeaker attached to a top side of the baffle and aligned to the loudspeaker opening; electronics associated with the loudspeaker attached to the top side of the baffle and coupled to the loudspeaker. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where: the baffle is attached to the grill box using fasteners through the first and second end flanges; and the grill is attached to the baffle using fasteners through the grill perimeter flange and through the baffle perimeter flange. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill box is formed from a single cut sheet of metal. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has: a width for fitting the narrow slot and the width of the narrow slot includes either six inches or four inches; and a length including either six inches, twelve inches, forty-two inches, forty-eight inches, fifty-four inches, sixty inches, or ninety-six inches. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has a decorative appearance.
A ceiling panel loudspeaker including: a grill box made of a single piece of cut sheet metal having: first and second end flanges extending from first and second bottom edges of respective first and second sides; and first and second cable openings; a baffle including a panel having: a perimeter flange sized to envelop a bottom portion of the grill box; a loudspeaker opening for aligning to an output portion of a loudspeaker; and a plurality of fastener openings proximate each loudspeaker opening; and a foraminous speaker grill: having a grill perimeter flange sized to envelop the baffle; and sized to fit within a narrow slot between suspended ceiling supports; and a plurality of fasteners for fastening the baffle to the grill box and for fastening the grill to the baffle. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, further including: the loudspeaker attached to a top side of the baffle and aligned to the loudspeaker opening; electronics associated with the loudspeaker attached to the top side of the baffle and coupled to the loudspeaker. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where: the baffle is attached to the grill box using fasteners through the first and second end flanges; and the grill is attached to the baffle using fasteners through the grill perimeter flange and through the baffle perimeter flange. The ceiling panel loudspeaker, where the grill has: a width for fitting the narrow slot and the width of the narrow slot includes either six inches or four inches; and a length including either six inches, twelve inches, forty-two inches, forty-eight inches, fifty-four inches, sixty inches, or ninety-six inches.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
Words of orientation, such as “top”, bottom“, etc, are referenced to the operational position of the device, which is with the grill 128 on the bottom facing downward from the ceiling. The nominal size of the illustrated embodiment is 6”×24″ grill width by length. However, the actual size is 5.75″×23.75″, as it is standard in the industry for the actual dimensions to be one-quarter-inch shorter than the nominal dimensions to allow some leeway when installing in a suspended ceiling T-bar frame.
Grill 128 will be the only part of the narrow ceiling speaker panel system 100 visible to the user once installed. In additional embodiments, grill 128 may be finished in various ways, such as white metal, metallic, or given a wooden appearance. Likewise, in some embodiments, only the portion of the grill 128 aligned to the speaker opening 106 may be multi-perforate. In still other embodiments, perforations aligned to the speaker opening 106 may be part of an artistic design of perforations. The grill 128 preferably has a decorative appearance by virtue of edge style, pattern of holes, color, or finish.
The illustrated embodiment is of a nominally 6″×24″ ceiling speaker panel. Other nominal sizes within the narrow ceiling speaker panel system 100 include, without limitation: 6″×6″, 6″×12″, 6″×42″, 6″×48″, 6″×54″, 6″×60″, 6″×96″, 4″×48″, and 4″×60″. The edge treatment shown for grill 128 is a beveled lay-in, as a curve is created when the metal material of the grill 128 is folded to form the grill edge 1110. In additional embodiments, additional edge styles may be used and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, and without limitation, square lay-in, square tegular, beveled tegular, and square tegular with a reveal may be used as edge styles.
The width 502 of end flange 120 is preferably 5.312 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The edge curvature width 504 is preferably one-half inch in the exemplary embodiment. The total flange length 506 is preferably 1.545 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box first flange screw hole margin 509 is preferably 0.717 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box first cable hole transverse centerline margin 510 is preferably 9.176 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box second cable hole transverse centerline margin 512 is preferably 13.820 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box second flange screw hole margin 514 is preferably 22.283 inches in the exemplary embodiment. Flange screw hole 122 preferably has a diameter of 0.156 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box flange first screw hole side offset 516 is preferably 0.906 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box cable openings centerline offset 518 is preferably 2.656 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The grill box flange second screw hole side offset 520 is preferably 4.406 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The edge 406 to edge 406 grill box length 522 is preferably 19.778 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The inner flange 204 to inner flange 204 grill box length 524 is preferably 19.910 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The total grill box and flange length 526 is preferably twenty-three inches in the exemplary embodiment.
The baffle width 814 is preferably 5.652 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The baffle length 816 is preferably 23.652 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The first baffle-to-grill screw hole side margin 818 is preferably 1.076 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The first speaker support holes side margin 820 is preferably 1.608 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The first transformer screw hole side margin 822 is preferably 1.826 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The speaker opening longitudinal centerline margin 824 is preferably 2.826 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The second transformer support screw hole side margin 826 is preferably 3.826 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The second speaker support holes side margin 828 is preferably 4.044 inches in the exemplary embodiment. The second baffle-to-grill screw hole side margin 830 is preferably 4.576 inches in the exemplary embodiment.
Although applicant has described applicant's exemplary embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes the various additional embodiments also mentioned as well as such modifications as diverse finishes and materials. Such scope is limited only by the above specification ad the claims below.
Further, many other advantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/843,507 filed Jul. 8, 2013 to the same inventor, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61843507 | Jul 2013 | US |