The present invention relates to speaker fixing systems and, more particularly, to a speaker/bracket assembly having a bracket which provides an orientation adjustment of the speaker.
The demand for high-quality speakers has increased dramatically over the last twenty years. As a consequence, there is a large selection of high-quality speakers available on the market. To meet with popularity of various kinds of speakers, a variety of speaker fixing systems for fixing and supporting the speakers are developed.
It is known that the positioning, arrangement and orientation of speakers in commercial and residential settings can affect the quality of sound from a sound system. Currently, many approaches have been taken to the positioning of speakers in a room, cinema, theaters, or vehicle, in order to optimize the quality of sound from a system. In general, there are three types of speakers fixing systems.
One typical speaker fixing system is a speaker stand which supports a speaker above a horizontal surface such as a floor. The speaker stand does provide vertical adjustment and provides limited options to locate a speaker. Further, the speaker stand occupies a partial area of the floor, accordingly decreasing effective area available for arranging other furnishings.
The second type of speaker fixing system is a hanging mounting system which suspends a speaker from the ceiling by toggle bolts. However, in order to use toggle bolts, it is necessary to make additional holes in the ceiling panel to receive the toggle bolts. Such an arrangement is unsuitable for a speaker and its associated bracket having large weight. Further, due to the height of the ceiling, it is inconvenient to install the speaker and the fixing system by toggle bolts in the ceiling.
The third type of speaker fixing system is a fixed mounting bracket that will rigidly attach a speaker to a wall by toggle bolts. Some fixed mounting brackets are problematic, because they do not provide a fixed speaker angle adjustment. Other mounting brackets may include a base and an adjustment arm and may optionally include a pivoting point. The pivoting point may be physically attached between the base and the adjustment arm, for adjusting the orientation angle of the speaker. However, this pivoting mounting bracket is problematic, because the pivot point together with the adjustment arm may not provide an accurate user defined adjustment angle for the speaker orientation or a secure mount. Further, the pivoting point will wear over time and with use, thereby causing the speaker to fall from adjustment and even producing injury to person under the speaker.
Moreover, there is a spherically adjustable mounting bracket, which allows for adjustment along multiple planes by means of a ball and socket joint. In the typical design, a ball is mounted within a stationary socket. The socket is required to envelope a majority of the ball so that the speaker may be mounted securely by a pressure force locking mechanism, such that the speaker does not easily come loose from its fixed position. Although this configuration allows a speaker to be mounted along multiple plans, the range of adjustment afforded by this design is substantially restricted by the fact that the socket is required to envelope a significant portion of the stationary ball.
There is, therefore, a need for a speaker/bracket assembly which may accurately and swiftly achieve a repeatable orientation adjustment of the speaker, and have an enlarged range of adjustment.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a speaker/bracket assembly comprises a speaker and a bracket for supporting the speaker thereon. The speaker defines a slide groove at a back face thereof. The bracket comprises a latching mechanism configured (i.e., structured, adapted or arranged) to be loosened to adjust and tightened to set the speaker position. The latching mechanism comprises a brake, a pair of latch hooks disposed on the brake, and a drive mechanism interposed between the pair of latch hooks. A spring is secured on the drive mechanism. The pair of latch hooks is loosened to set the speaker position and snaps into the slide groove to lock the speaker into the set position when the spring is pushed in and drawn back out the brake by the drive mechanism.
In operation, user can drive the drive mechanism to cause the spring to be pushed in the brake, and then the pair of latch hooks becomes loosened. Accordingly, the user can freely set the speaker position and change the orientation angle of the speaker. After adjusting to desired speaker position, user can drive back the drive mechanism to cause the spring to be drawn back out the brake, and then the pair of latch hooks tightly snaps into the slide groove, thereby locking the speaker into desired position. During the entire operation process, the adjustment to the speaker can be accurately and swiftly achieved and requires low time consumption. The range of adjustable angle depends on the radian of the slide groove. In practical application, the radian or length of slide groove can be predesigned to be enough large, thereby enlarging the range of the adjustable angle of the speaker.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Objects, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be appreciated that the following description of the embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to
The latching mechanism comprises a brake 26, a pair of latch hooks 28 disposed on the brake 26, and a drive mechanism interposed between the pair of latch hooks 28, as shown in
Referring to
The backing 124 includes a central portion 1242 and two end portions 1244 disposed at two opposite margins of the central portion 1242. The two end portions 1244 are separated from the central portion 1242. The two end portions 1244 closely contact the central portion 1242 so as to forms a continuous curved backing 124. Further, a cavity 1262 is defined in a bottom of the groove 126. Some parts associated with the speaker/bracket assembly 100, for example cables or wires, may be accommodated in the cavity 1262. The two end portions 1244 can be separately taken away from the backbone portion 123. Thus, in use, any one of the two end portions 1244 can be opened to take out of parts received in the arched groove 126 or put parts into the arched groove 126.
The central portion 1242 defines a slot 1240 along a central line thereof. The slot 1240 may run through the entire central portion 1242 and extends along arched outline of the central portion 1242, as shown in
A plurality of threaded poles 127 is protruded from an inner surface of the backing 124. Each threaded poles 127 defines a group of inner thread. A plurality of holes 128 is defined at the backbone portion 123 in correspondence to the plurality of threaded poles 127. Each threaded pole 127 is inserted into one respective hole 128 and receives a bolt, thereby fixing the backing 124 onto the shell body 122. After the backing 124 is fixed to the shell body 122, the slot 1240 and the arched groove 126 cooperatively form the slide groove 11. In this structure, the arched groove 126 serves as an inner groove space of the slide groove 11 and the slot 1240 serves as a groove opening of the slide groove 11. The slot 1240 advantageously has a slot width smaller than a groove width of the arched groove 126. That is, the slide groove 11 has a T-shaped void in a cross sectional direction. Such a slide groove 11 provides an advantageous aid in holding the latching mechanism (e.g., the latch hooks) therein.
Further, at least one line of scale 130 is graduated along the backbone portion 123. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two lines of scales 130 graduated at two edges of the backbone portion 123. In this embodiment, the central portion 1242 of the backing 12 has a radian of about 120°. The graduated scales 130 have a scale range of about 0-120 degree. For example, the graduated scales 130 have twelve scales and thus the scale interval is 10°. Ten sub-scales may be marked between adjacent scales. The scales 130 can provide a precision guide to accurately adjust orientation angle of the speaker 10. It is to be appreciated that the central portion 1242 of the backing 12 could have an arched angle larger than 120 degree, accordingly increasing radian of the slide groove 11 and thus obtaining wider adjustable amplitude of the speaker.
The inner fixing frame 14 is fixed to an inner wall of the outer shell 12 by, e.g., a bolt. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall of the outer shell 12 extends a plurality of threaded projections 129. The inner fixing frame 14 defines a plurality of orifices 140. The plurality of threaded projections 129 is provided with inner thread. The plurality of threaded projections 129 is respectively penetrated through the plurality of orifices 140. A plurality of bolt is applied to engage the threaded projections 129, thereby fixing the inner frame 14 to the outer shell 12.
The inner fixing frame 14 is entirely an elliptical panel and is accommodated into the outer shell 12. An audio generator, for example a loudspeaker 142, is disposed at the center of the inner fixing frame 14. The cover 16 may be cambered outwards and cooperates with the inner fixing frame 14 to form a space for receiving the loudspeaker 142.
The cover 16 is in a web or mesh shape to allow sound spread therethrough. The cover 16 directly covers on the inner fixing frame 14. For example, the cover 16 has a cover flange 162 for snapping upon edges of the inner fixing frame 14. In other embodiments, the cover 16 could be fixed to inner fixing frame 14 by a screw.
Referring to
The substrate 22 is provided with two opposite inner walls 223 projecting from the substrate 22. The two inner walls 223 cooperatively define a sunken recess 224 therebetween for receiving the clamp cup assembly 24 therein. The two inner walls 223 define two orifices 226 to allow the drive screw 23 to pass through. One of the two inner walls 223 forms a semicircle ring 225 which cooperates another semicircle ring 227 to define a central aperture and a ditch extending along a diameter direction. The two semicircle rings 225 and 227 engage together by, e.g., a screw. The semicircle ring 227 may depart from the semicircle ring 225 by disassembling the screw.
A first knurl ring 228 is disposed against the semicircle ring 225 and has a central hole for allowing the drive screw 23 to pass through. The first knurl ring 228 includes a first knurl part 228a and an elongated first rib 228b along a diameter direction thereof. The first rib 228b is used to insert into the ditch of the semicircle ring 225, thereby securing the first knurl ring 228 on the semicircle ring 225 of the substrate 22. A plurality of threaded pins 229 are formed in a bottom of the recess 224 of the substrate 22, for fixing the substrate 22 to an external base, e.g., a wall by screws.
The clamp cup assembly 24 is, advantageously, a shell in a cup form. The clamp cup assembly 24 has a V-shaped cross section. The clamp cup assembly 24 forms a receiving cavity for receiving the latching mechanism therein. The clamp cup assembly 24 includes an arched bottom wall 24a with two turn-up ends and two semicircle or crescent side walls 24b adjoining the arched bottom wall 24a at two sides of the bottom wall 24a. A plurality of upright ribs 241 is arranged on the bottom wall 24a, for supporting the latching mechanism thereon. The bottom wall 24a defines an arched opening 243 extending along an arched central line of the bottom wall 24a.
One side wall 24b of the clamp cup assembly 24 defines a recess corresponding to the semicircle ring 225. The recess defines an opening 240. The opening 240 includes a central opening 240a for allowing the drive screw 23 to pass through and a ditch 240b. A second knurl ring 248 is inserted into the recess. The second knurl ring 248 includes a second knurl part 248a engaging the first knurl part 228a and an elongated second rib 248b along a diameter direction thereof. The ditch 240b receives the second rib 248b, accordingly securing the second knurl ring 248 onto the clamp cup assembly 24. The drive screw 23 further passes through the second knurl ring 248. The second knurl ring 248 is disposed outside the side wall 24b. A C-shaped ring 249 is interposed between the recess in the side wall 24b and the second knurl ring 248 to force the first knurl rings 228 to closely engage the second knurl ring 248. When the two knurl rings 228 and 248 tightly engage with each other, the clamp cup assembly 24 revolves along with the substrate 22. Although the drive screw 23 passes through the two knurl rings 228 and 248, the two knurl rings 228 and 248 are independent of the rotation of the drive screw 23. The substrate 22 and the clamp cup assembly 24, as well as the two knurl rings 228 and 248, do not revolves along with the rotation of the drive screw 23. While disassembling the bracket 20, the semicircle ring 227 is firstly removed from the semicircle ring 225, and then the drive screw 23 is drawn out of the orifices 226. The first and second knurl rings 228 and 248 are apart from each other, thereby detaching the clamp cup assembly 24 from the substrate 22.
Furthermore, the sunken recess 224 has a length along an axial direction of the drive screw 23 larger than that of the clamp cup assembly 24. Accordingly, the clamp cup assembly 24 may transfer along the drive screw 23 and smoothly revolve along the drive screw 23 to a desired orientation. The latching mechanism is driven to sway around the drive screw 23 along with the clamp cup assembly 24. While adjusting the clamp cup assembly 24 to desired position, the drive screw 23 is driven to cause clamp cup assembly 24 to secure the clamp cup assembly 24 on the substrate 22. Accordingly, swaying amplitude of the speaker 10 around the drive screw 23 can be regulated by the rotation of the clamp cup assembly 24. The swaying amplitude is in the range of, for example, about 90 degree. The swaying amplitude substantially depends on an arc degree (i.e., radian) of the arched bottom wall 24a and swaying space where the sunken recess 224 allows the clamp cup assembly 24 to sway around the drive screw 23.
The latching mechanism is disposed in the clamp cup assembly 24. The pair of latch hooks 28 are respectively mounted and distributed on two opposite edges of the brake 26, e.g., arranged on two sides of the drive screw 230. Each latch hook 28 includes an upright panel 281, at least one hook 283 vertically protruding from the upright panel 281, and an aerofoil panel 287 protruding from a side of the upright panel 281 opposite to the hook 283. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one spaced hook 283 comprises two spaced hooks 283. The two spaced hooks 283 are disposed at one side of the upright panel 281 and are aligned in a line along the axial direction of the drive screw 23. The two spaced hooks 283 and the aerofoil panel 287 are disposed at two opposite sides of the upright panel 281. Each hook 283 includes a connecting panel 282 extending along a direction opposite to the aerofoil panel 287 and an upright hook portion 284 vertically protruding from a free end of the connecting panel 282 along a vertical direction. Each hook portion 284 has a hook-shaped top. For example, the hook-shaped top is in a triangle shape and thus the entire hook portion 284 is in a triangle flag shape, i.e., likes a “4”. The hook-shaped top of each hook portion 284 is locked in the arched groove 126 of the slide groove 11 and the other portion of each hook portion 284 is kept out of the slide groove 11. As such, the latch hooks 28 snap into the slide groove 11.
The brake 26 includes an arched support panel 262 and a bridge panel 264. The bottommost of the arched support panel 262 is disposed in the arched opening 243. The support panel 262 includes a central arc portion 263 and two baffles 265 adjoining two ends of the central arc portion 263. The central arc portion 263 has an arched shape matching void shape of the arched opening 243, namely, the central arc portion 263 has the same curvature to the bottom wall 24a of the clamp cup assembly 24. The two baffles 265 essentially extend along a vertical direction. The bridge panel 264 is interposed between the two baffles 265 and adjoins the central arc portion of the support panel 262. The bridge panel 264 is substantially perpendicular to the drive screw 23. The bridge panel 264 defines a window 266.
The brake 26 defines two elongated orifices 260 along a direction parallel to the axial of the drive screw 23 at joints between the two baffles 265 and the central arc portion 263. Each latch hook 28 defines an aperture for allowing a connecting shaft 288 to pass through. The connecting shaft 288 further passes through the orifices 260 so as to mount the two latch hooks 28 on the brake 26. Specifically, the two upright panels 281 are disposed against the two baffles 265 of the support panel 262. The upright panel 281 of each latch hook 28 defines an opening 286 facing toward the baffle 265 of the support panel 262. Thus, the two baffles 265 of the support panel 262 seal the two opening 286 of the two upright panels 281, respectively. Each latch hook 28 is pivotally connected to the support panel 262 by the connecting shaft 288, and thus revolves along the connecting shaft 288.
The two hooks 283 of one latch hook 28 and the two hooks 283 of the other latch hook 28 are alternately spaced and arranged along a line substantially parallel to the axial of the drive screw 23, as shown in
The drive mechanism includes a wedge block 25 and the drive screw 23, as shown in
The end portion 256 of the wedge block 25 is disposed adjacent the knurl ring 248. The window 266 may be a rectangular void and the wedge block 25 is in a cuboid shape for matching the rectangular window 266. The wedge portion 264 of the wedge block 25 is inclined to the drive screw 23 by a certain angle, e.g., 30 to 60 degree, advantageously 45 degree. The rectangular window 266 allows the wedge block 25 to transfer along the axial direction of the drive screw 23, but prevents the wedge block 25 from rotating around the drive screw 23. In other embodiments, a stop mechanism, for example, including a slot and a pin applied to the wedge block 25 and the window 266, thereby permitting any desired fit shapes of the wedge block 25 and the window 266.
A stop member 257 is disposed at the end portion 256. The stop member 257 includes two pairs of barriers 257a and 257b and a connecting segment connecting the two pairs of barriers 257a and 257b. The pairs of barriers 257a/257b are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the drive screw 23. Accordingly, the entire stop member 257 is in an “H” form and defines two spaces between the two pairs of barriers 257a, 257b and the connecting segment 257c.
The end portion 256 is advantageously in a cylindrical shape for securing the spring 271. The spring 271 winds around the end portion 256. The spring 271 includes a major spring winding 272 around the end portion 256, two upright spring arms 273 and 275 extending from two ends of the spring winding 272, and two elastic rods 274 and 276 respectively extending from the two spring arms 273 and 275 along a horizontal direction (i.e., axial direction of the drive screw 23). The spring arms 273 and 275 are respectively held in two interspaces defined between the two pairs of barriers 257a, 257b and the connecting segment 257c. The two elastic rods 274 and 276 press against the upright panels 281 of the two latch hooks 28, respectively. In this manner, the spring 271 is held between the two pairs of barriers 257a and 257b and thus cannot transfer and rotate about the end portion 256. Further, a pair of flanges 258 is disposed at two sides of a diameter of the end portion 256, for preventing the spring 271 from departing from the end portion 256.
Referring to
A rubber isolator 29 is disposed on the clamp cup assembly 24, for covering the receiving cavity, as shown in
The rubber isolator 29 extends two side flanges 297 parallel to the slide groove 11, for engaging two edges of the backing 124. The two side flanges 297 restrict the rubber isolator 29 to slide along a surface of the backing 124, but not generate any offset. The rubber isolator 29 is in an arched shape similar to the arched shape of the backing 124 to couple to the backing 12 and slide along the back face of the backing 124.
The operating process of the speaker/bracket assembly 100 is described in detail as follows.
In operation, to adjust the angle or position of the speaker 10, the wedge block 25 is pushed in the window 266 by rotating the drive screw 23. Meanwhile, the two elastic rods 274 and 276 of the spring 271 slide in the two openings 286 and press against the two baffles 265 of the brake 26, thereby releasing the two hook portions 284 of the two latch hooks 28. The hook portions 284 are still held in the slide groove 11. Consequently, the latching mechanism, i.e., the latch hooks 28, can slide along the slide groove 11 to a desired angle. In other words, the latching mechanism is loosened in the slide groove 11 to adjust the speaker position by moving the speaker 10. After positioning the speaker 10 on a desired angle, the elastic rods 274 and 276 are drawn back out the openings 286 and then press against the two upright panels 281 by rotating the drive screw 23 Accordingly, the hook portions 284 snap into the slide groove 11 by rotating the drive screw 23 again. In the illustrated embodiment, the radian of the backing 124 is about 120 degree. Accordingly, the adjustable span angle of the speaker 10 is in a range of about 0-120 degree. Thus, the present speaker/bracket assembly 100 has a larger adjustable angle.
Further, as described above, the clamp cup assembly 24 may transfer along the drive screw 23 to separate the second knurl ring 248 from the second knurl ring 248. After departing from the two knurl rings 228, 248, the clamp cup assembly 24 can freely revolve along the drive screw 23 to a desired orientation. While adjusting the clamp cup assembly 24 to desired orientation, the clamp cup assembly 24 transfers toward the first knurl ring 228 to recover engagement between the clamp cup assembly 24 and the substrate 22 by the two knurl rings 228 and 248. Accordingly, swaying amplitude of the speaker/bracket assembly 100 around the drive screw 23 can be regulated by such an adjustment of the clamp cup assembly 24. The swaying amplitude is in the range of, for example, about 90 degree.
As such, the speaker/bracket assembly 100 can be adjusted and oriented at desired angles in three dimensional direction according to the adjusting operation described above.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008 1 0142122 | Aug 2008 | CN | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5201896 | Kruszewski | Apr 1993 | A |
6891957 | Manrique et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
7455271 | Pincek et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
7532735 | Whitehouse et al. | May 2009 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100051773 A1 | Mar 2010 | US |