Patent Application
20130251187
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to mounting devices for attaching loudspeakers to architectural structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal angle speaker bracket.
2. Related Art
Loudspeakers, or acoustic transducers, are utilized in countless applications in which audio such as music, voice, sound effects, or any combination thereof, is reproduced. These applications may be as miniscule as portable music players, mobile telephone devices and desktop, laptop or tablet computer-based entertainment, medium scale such as car audio installations, home theater installations and other architectural installation, or larger scale such as movie theaters, stadiums, concert venues, and the like. Generally, loudspeakers are utilized anywhere audio communications is desired or needed. The suitable type and size of loudspeakers depends upon the particular requirements of its use.
In a typical configuration that may be utilized across most consumer or consumer-oriented commercial applications, loudspeaker units may be comprised of one or more drivers. It is understood that the diaphragm size of a given driver is directly related to its frequency response characteristics, and so a loudspeaker unit may include one driver (i.e., a tweeter) for higher frequency signals and another driver (e.g., a woofer) for lower frequency signals. Medium frequency signals may be output via the aptly named midrange. Connected to the signal source may be a crossover No matter the number of drivers utilized, they are typically mounted to enclosures, or cabinets, to reduce interference of in-phase sound waves on the front or face of the loudspeaker driver, from out-of-phase sound waves from the rear. Conventional loudspeakers are provided as a standalone unit, and are positioned and oriented in a room as desired by the listener. As understood, the term loudspeaker may refer to individual drivers as well as the combination of one enclosure with multiple drivers.
Due to the directivity of loudspeaker drivers, that is, the quality and maximum energy transfer from the loudspeaker driver to the listener's ears being dependent upon an optimal radiating direction, the placement and orientation is important. Difficulties relating to this issue are often encountered with architectural installations in public spaces and buildings that have unique acoustic characteristics. Further, various advanced applications utilize a combination of audio from a several different loudspeakers each oriented to produce various psycho-acoustic effects. Such surround sound techniques are commonly utilized in home and professional theater installations.
In some installations, it may be desirable to mount individual loudspeaker drivers and loudspeaker units to recede into the architectural structure. One of the most common ways of doing so is by placing the loudspeaker into a pre-drilled hole in the ceiling or the wall, with the loudspeaker being secured thereto with fasteners such as bolts, screws, and nails. With such an installation, however, unless complicated, location-specific adapters are utilized, the radiating direction is limited to vertical (ceilings and floors) or horizontal (walls). It is also unsatisfactory because the heavy weight of the loudspeaker driver is held by a relatively small and weak area of the structure, and the likelihood of detachment therefore increases.
Alternatively, brackets, adapters, and other hardware can be used to statically mount loudspeaker units to architectural surfaces. Although somewhat more intrusive than in-wall or in-ceiling installations, substantial concealment is possible with colors and exterior stylization that match the surrounding décor. The hardware is relatively easy to install, and can be accomplished with simple hand tools. So long as it was fixed to solid structural components such as studs and beams (rather than drywall, for example) the risk of detachment was minimal. However, the range of possible rotation was limited, if there was any at all, and restricted to a first axis. Thus, due to the restricted orientation range, highly directional loudspeaker driver designs could not be utilized.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved loudspeaker bracket mount that can be oriented in various directions. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for a loudspeaker assembly that is simpler and easier to install and manipulate as the need arises, while also retaining its set orientation indefinitely.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is contemplated an apparatus for mounting a loudspeaker unit to a structure. The apparatus may include a primary mounting bracket defined by an arcuate center section and a pair of opposed arms extending therefrom. The arcuate center section may define at least one open groove and at least one substantially coextensive track spanning the arcuate center section. Each of the arms may include a circular planar bearing structure that is rotatably engageable to a corresponding one of bracket coupling platforms on an enclosure of the loudspeaker unit. There may also be tab that is in a guided sliding engagement with the track defined on the arcuate center section of the primary mounting bracket. The tab may define at least one mounting hardware hole in axial alignment with the at least one open groove substantially throughout its length. The enclosure of the loudspeaker unit may be is rotatable about a first axis extending between the arms of the primary mounting bracket. Additionally, the enclosure of the loudspeaker unit may be rotatable about a second axis defined by a radial center of an arc corresponding to a travel path of the tab along the track. The present invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.
The present disclosure contemplates bracket devices for mounting loudspeakers to a structure in various orientations. The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of such devices, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the devices in connection with the illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.
The perspective views of
The enclosure 14 may take on a variety of different configurations, but in the illustrated example, it is generally box-shaped. In further detail, the enclosure 14 may be defined by the front section 16 and a back end 20 opposite thereto. There may also be a top 22, a bottom 24, and opposed sides 26. These various sections of the enclosure 14 may be curved and therefore be merged together, with no clear delineation of where one starts and another ends. Furthermore, each of the aforementioned parts of the enclosure 14 may have compound surfaces such as contours. The particular configuration illustrated herein is by way of example only, and any other suitable shape of the enclosure 14 may be substituted depending on the aesthetic needs or desires of a particular application.
The loudspeaker unit 12 includes several components that are common to most other loudspeaker units, the detailed explanation of which will be omitted in favor of a brief general overview. The loudspeaker drivers are covered and concealed by a grill 28 that may be detachably coupled or otherwise positioned on the front section 16 of the enclosure 14. The terminals receptive to the electrical connections from the sound source and any crossover circuitry ting such connections to the individual loudspeaker drivers are also housed within the enclosure 14. In some configurations, an audio amplifier may also be incorporated into the loudspeaker unit 12, in which case such circuitry is likewise housed within the enclosure 14. It will be appreciated that any other suitable loudspeaker unit 12 may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
With additional reference to the exploded perspective view of
According to various embodiments, the primary mounting bracket 30 may be constructed from a flexible yet semi-rigid material such as sheet metal or polymer. Such a sheet may further be defined by an exterior side 46 and an opposed interior side 48, with the primary mounting bracket 30 likewise being referenced for the sake of consistency. Any suitable grade of sheet metal may be utilized for the construction of the primary mounting bracket 30. It is contemplated that the various parts of the primary mounting bracket 30 described herein are structurally contiguous and integrally formed of a single sheet of material, though alternative embodiments may involve multiple discrete components that are attached to each other with a variety of fastening modalities. The different holes, bends, and extrusions may be formed according to sheet metal working techniques well known in the art.
As best shown in
In the particular embodiment shown in
The primary mounting bracket 30 is secured to the enclosure 14 via bracket engagement knobs 70 for each of the circular planar bearing structures 62 of the respective arms 34a, 34b. More particularly, bracket coupling platform 50 further defines a tapped opening 72 that accepts a threaded post 74 on the bracket engagement knob 70. By tightening the bracket engagement knob 70 into the tapped opening 72, the frictional engagement of the primary mounting bracket 30 to the enclosure 14 is increased. The circular planar bearing structure 62 is understood to have an annular configuration with a central hole 76 defined thereby. The threaded post 74 of the bracket engagement knob 70 extends through this central hole 76. An axis X-X 78 is defined between the center of the circular planar bearing structures 62, and the respective central holes 76 thereof. Thus, the central holes 76 are understood to be coaxial with respect to the axis X-X 78. With the enclosure 14 being engaged to the primary mounting bracket 30, the axis X-X 78 also extends through the center of the bracket coupling platform 50 and particularly the tapped opening 72 thereof.
As further shown in
Referring now to
With reference to the cross-sectional view of
As best shown in
Fasteners 107 may be inserted from an interior side 108, which coincides with the interior side 48 of the primary mounting bracket 30 when engaged thereto, through the mounting hardware holes 102, 104 as well as the open groove 88, and secure the exterior side 46 of the primary mounting bracket 30 against the structure. Thus, the relative position of the tab 100 along the arc C-C 40 defines the angle at which the primary mounting bracket 30 is attached with a center about the axis Z-Z 44. As utilized herein, the fasteners 107 are understood to be any appropriate coupling device such as screws, bolts, and the like that can be attached to the structure.
As mentioned above, the tab 100 is in a sliding engagement with the tracks 94. More particularly, the tab 100 has a raised flat central portion 110 intermediate a pair of lowered foot portions 112. The bottom surface of the lowered foot portions 112 are understood to contact the interior side 48 of the arcuate center section 32. Shoulder portions 114 defined by the junction between the raised flat central portion 110 and the respective lowered foot portions 112 contact the raised edge portions 96 corresponding to the tracks 94, and contributes to centering the tab 100 on the tracks 94. Because the tab 100 slides along the arcuate center section 36, as best shown in the cross-sectional view of
The movement of the tab 100 along the tracks 94 may be restricted by the fastener 107 inserted through the mounting hardware holes 102, 104, and the limits of the open groove 88. Since the mounting hardware holes 102, 104 are offset from the edges of the tab 100, the tab 100 may extend slightly beyond the tracks 94 when in a fully extended position. End to end, the angle of possible rotation about the axis Z-Z 44 is contemplated to be around 80°, or 40° in each direction relative to the center 36.
Notwithstanding the disclosed use of two fasteners 107, along with the two open grooves 88 on the primary mounting bracket 30 and the corresponding two mounting hardware holes 102 of the tab 100, it is expressly contemplated that fewer (i.e., one) or additional fastener configurations are possible. The need for additional fasteners 107 and the concomitant changes to the configuration of the tab 100 and the primary mounting bracket 30 may depend on the weight and size of the loudspeaker unit 12, or the anticipated installation location and orientation.
In view of the foregoing, a typical installation procedure may first involve securing the fasteners 107 through the tab 100 and the primary mounting bracket 30. Thereafter, the fasteners 107 may be tightened to support the weight of the primary mounting bracket 30 and the loudspeaker unit 12, yet keeping the tab 100 unlocked for further possible rotational adjustment about the axis Z-Z 44. Then, the loudspeaker unit 12 may be attached to the primary mounting bracket 30 with the direction of radiation d 18 being first adjusted about the axis X-X 78 (pitch). When a desired orientation is set, it may be locked by tightening the bracket engagement knob 70. Thereafter, further adjustment about the axis Z-Z 44 (roll) may be made, and finally secure the tab 100, the primary mounting bracket 30, and hence the loudspeaker unit 12 to the structure by completely tightening the fasteners 107. The appropriate torque levels to be applied may depend on the underlying material of the structure.
Although the terms pitch and roll have been referenced parenthetically above, it is by way of example only and not of limitation. It will be recognized that as the loudspeaker unit 12 is rotated further along either the axis X-X 78 or the axis Z-Z 44, a rotation about the other axis becomes something else relative to the direction of radiation d 18. For example, in the position shown in
Instead of the final tightening of the fasteners 107 after securing the loudspeaker unit 12 to the primary mounting bracket 30, such step may be completed beforehand. Along these lines, it is expressly contemplated that the fasteners 107 and the bracket engagement knobs 70 may be maintained in a semi-loose state while adjustments about both the axis X-X 78 and the axis Z-Z 44 may be made concurrently.
With reference to
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
