U.S. patent application number 11/163363 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for [suspension member for speaker].
This patent application is currently assigned to Mrs. Yen-Chen Chan. Invention is credited to Yen-Chen Chan.
Application Number | 20060029247 11/163363 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33540982 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060029247 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Yen-Chen |
February 9, 2006 |
[SUSPENSION MEMBER FOR SPEAKER]
Abstract
An elastically deformable suspension member for speaker is
disclosed to have an inner diameter portion for mounting of a cone,
an outer diameter portion spaced around the inner diameter portion
at a predetermined pitch for fastening to a basket, and three or
more arched surface portions formed in the predetermined pitch and
extending one within another around the inner diameter portion and
connected between the inner diameter portion and the outer diameter
portion for enabling the suspension member to give a sufficient
support to the connected cone to prevent distortion during working
of the speaker.
Inventors: |
Chan; Yen-Chen; (TAIPEI,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YEN-CHEN CHAN
P.O. BOX 108-00403
TAIPEI
TW
|
Assignee: |
Chan; Mrs. Yen-Chen
11F, No. 550, Lung-An Street
Hsinchuang City, Taipei Hsien
TW
|
Family ID: |
33540982 |
Appl. No.: |
11/163363 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10609940 |
Jun 30, 2003 |
6942719 |
|
|
11163363 |
Oct 17, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/392 ;
381/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C01B 3/38 20130101; C01B
2203/0425 20130101; C01B 2203/0283 20130101; C01B 3/56 20130101;
C01B 2203/0475 20130101; C01B 2203/0233 20130101; C01B 2203/148
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/392 ;
381/386 |
International
Class: |
H04R 25/00 20060101
H04R025/00 |
Claims
1. A suspension member having a hollow elastic body, said hollow
elastic body comprising an inner diameter portion for the mounting
of a cone, an outer diameter portion spaced around said inner
diameter portion at a predetermined pitch for fastening to a
basket, and at least three annular surface portions formed in said
predetermined pitch between said inner diameter portion and said
outer diameter portion and smoothly arched in transverse direction
and extending one within another around said inner diameter portion
and connected between said inner diameter portion and said outer
diameter portion.
2. The suspension member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
annular surface portions include a first annular surface portion
and a plurality of second annular surface portions symmetrically
disposed at two sides of said first annular surface portion and
respectively connected between said inner diameter portion and said
first annular surface portion and between said outer diameter
portion and said first annular surface portion.
3. The suspension member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer
diameter portion has a plurality of equiangularly spaced peripheral
notches for mounting the engagement of bottom flanges of a locating
ring.
4. The suspension member as claimed in claim 1, which is made of
polyurethane.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my patent
application, Ser. No. 10/906,940, filed on Mar. 14, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a speaker and more
particularly, to a suspension member for speaker, which uses
multiple transversely arched annular surface portions to give a
sufficient support to the cone, presenting distortion of sound.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A speaker is a converter means that converts electric signal
into sound signal for output. Many electronic devices such as
broadcasting system, stereo system, TV, computer, multimedia
system, etc., commonly use speakers for output of sound. A speaker
has a voice coil mounted within a magnet. When the voice coil is
electrically connected to produce a magnetic induction, the voice
coil is causes to move forwards and backwards along an axis when an
electric current is connected thereto, thereby producing a sound
wave at a predetermined frequency. Different speakers use different
voice coils to produce sound waves at different frequencies. Follow
fast development of technology and change of living style, people
are critical to the requirement of the sound quality of a speaker.
In addition to the requirement of increasing sound, sound quality
is an important factor must be taken into account when selecting a
speaker.
[0006] A speaker includes some parts, i.e., an outer basket, a
suspension member, a cone and an inner exciter. Every part has a
great concern with the performance of the speaker. FIGS. 7, 8 and
8A show the outer appearance of a suspension member and a speaker.
As illustrated, the speaker comprises a basket A, an exciter B
mounted in a center area within a holding space A1 of the basket A,
a cone C suspending around the exciter B, and a suspension member D
fastened to a rim of the basket A and connected to a periphery of
the cone C to hold the cone C around the exciter B. During working
of the exciter B, the cone C is moved up and down to produce sound.
The maximum amount of displacement of the cone C is the stroke of
the speaker. The suspension member D is designed to give a support
power to the cone C. The suspension member D is made of an elastic
material, having a curved surface portion D1 to fit the motion of
the cone C.
[0007] However, because the suspension member D has one single
curved surface portion D1 extending around the border area, the
supporting power of the suspension member D to the cone C is
limited. If the stroke of the speaker surpassed the supporting
power provided by the suspension member D to the cone C, a
distortion of sound will occur. In this case, the user cannot enjoy
a high quality of sound. If to extend the size of the curved
surface portion D1, the supporting power will be relatively
reduced, and the stroke of the cone C will be relatively increased,
resulting in distortion of sound. Further, changing the size of the
curved surface portion D1 of the suspension member D must
relatively change the structure of the basket A and the cone C,
thereby increasing the manufacturing cost.
[0008] A loudspeaker system of the prior art is disclosed in which
the transducer comprises a chassis, a diaphragm located within the
chassis, an electromagnetic actuator, which has a first actuator
part connected to the back part of the diaphragm and a second
actuator part connected to the chassis to cooperate with the first
actuator part via an air gap, a telescoping arrangement coupled
between the chassis and the diaphragm, and suspension means for
flexibly suspending the diaphragm from the chassis via the
telescoping arrangement. This design greatly increases the area of
the suspension, thereby lowering the supporting power to support
the cone and relatively increasing the stroke of the cone. In order
to fit the extended size of the suspension, the basket and the cone
must be specially designed.
[0009] A transducer suspension of the prior art is disclosed.
According to this design, the suspension member is comprised of a
dense non-cellular silicone rubber material such that the
suspension member operates reliably over an extremely wide
temperature range, having an outer edge portion attached to the
main body of the transducer, an inner edge portion attached to a
diaphragm, and a resilient region extending between the outer and
inner edge portion. According to this design, the resilient region
is insufficient to support the movement of the cone, and a
distortion of sound may be produced during the operation of the
speaker system.
[0010] A suspension design of the prior art is disclosed. According
to this design, the suspension member is a resilient member having
multiple curved surface portions. Because the suspension member is
formed integral with the cone, the suspension member will oscillate
with the cone during the operation of the speaker system, thereby
affecting the sound quality of the cone. Further, the stroke of the
cone gives an impact to the suspension member, causing the
suspension member unable to effectively support the motion of the
cone.
[0011] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a suspension member
that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. According to the present invention, the
suspension member comprises an inner diameter portion, and outer
diameter portion, and at least three annular surface portions
arched in transverse direction and extending one within another
around the inner diameter portion and connected between the inner
diameter portion and the outer diameter portion. The number of the
annular surface portions is determined subject to the design of the
speaker. The annular surface portions enable the suspension member
to give a sufficient support power to a cone, eliminating the
possibility that the stroke of the cone surpasses the supporting
power of the suspension member, and preventing distortion of
sound.
[0013] When changing the number of the annular surface portions,
the pitch between the inner diameter portion and the outer diameter
portion remains unchanged to fit the cone. Therefore, different
suspension members can be made having the same pitch between the
inner diameter portion and the outer diameter portion and having
different designs of annular surface portions between the inner
diameter portion and the outer diameter portion for use with the
same specification of the cone to fit different speaker
requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a suspension member and a cone
for speaker according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view in an enlarged scale
of the suspension member and the cone shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the installation of the
suspension member with the cone in a speaker according to the
present invention (I).
[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the installation of the
suspension member with the cone in a speaker according to the
present invention (II).
[0018] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 6A corresponds to FIG. 5, showing the suspension member
in action (I).
[0020] FIG. 6B corresponds to FIG. 5, showing the suspension member
in action (II).
[0021] FIG. 7 is an elevational assembly view of a suspension
member and a cone according to the prior art.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a speaker constructed
according to the prior art.
[0023] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of part D of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a suspension member 1 in
accordance with the present invention is a hollow elastic member,
having an inner diameter portion 11, an outer diameter portion 12
extending around the inner diameter portion 11, a plurality of
peripheral locating notches 121 equiangularly formed in the outer
diameter portion 12, and a plurality of, for example, three annular
surface portions 13 that are smoothly arched in transverse
direction and arranged one within another around the inner diameter
portion 11 and connected between the inner diameter portion 11 and
the outer diameter portion 12. The combined width of the annular
surface portions 13, i.e., the pitch between the inner diameter
portion 11 and the outer diameter portion 12 is predetermined
subject to the design of the speaker. The annular surface portions
13 have one arranged on the middle and the other symmetrically
arranged at two sides relative to the one on the middle.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 2 again, a cone 2 is
bonded to the inner diameter portions 11 of the suspension member 1
and then put with the suspension member 1 in a basket 3 for
enabling an exciter 4 to pass through a center through hole 21 of
the cone 2 and the outer diameter portion 12 of the suspension
member 1 to be attached to the surface of the basket 3, and then a
locating ring 5 is attached to the outer diameter portion 12 of the
suspension member 1 to force the bottom flanges 51 of the locating
ring 5 into engagement with the locating notches 121, thereby
holding down the suspension member 1 in the basket 3.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B and FIG. 4 again, during
working of the exciter 4, the cone 2 is continuously moved up and
down to produce sound, and the maximum amount of displacement of
the cone 2 is the stroke of the speaker. At this time, the
elastically deformable material property of the suspension member 1
gives a sufficient support to the cone 2. Because the pitch between
the inner diameter portion 11 and the outer diameter portion 12 is
constant and because there are three annular surface portions 13
connected between the inner diameter portion 11 and the outer
diameter portion 12 without changing the designed pitch between the
inner diameter portion 11 and the outer diameter portion 12.
Therefore, the suspension member 1 is freely deformable to
compensate the oscillation motion of the cone 2 during working of
the exciter 4 while giving a sufficient support to the cone 2,
preventing distortion.
[0027] Further, the number of the annular surface portions 13 can
be changed subject to the requirements of the speaker (for example,
width of sound range, range of output power, etc.) so that the
speaker can provide a comparatively better sound quality. When
changing the number of the annular surface portions 13, the
curvature and arrangement of the annular surface portions 13 can be
relatively changed, maintaining the same combined width to fit the
cone 2.
[0028] Further, the suspension member 1 is made of elastic
material, for example, polyurethane.
[0029] As indicated above, the present invention provides a
suspension member for speaker, which has multiple annular surface
portions connected between the inner diameter portion and the outer
diameter portion and respectively extending one within another
around the inner diameter portion to provide a strong support to
the cone, preventing distortion. The number of the annular surface
portions may be changed. However, when changing the number of the
annular surface portions, the pitch between the inner diameter
portion and the outer diameter portion remains unchanged to fit the
cone. Therefore, different suspension members can be made having
the same pitch between the inner diameter portion and the outer
diameter portion and having different designs of annular surface
portions between the inner diameter portion and the outer diameter
portion for use with the same specification of cone to fit
different speaker requirements.
[0030] A prototype of suspension member for speaker has been
constructed with the features of FIGS. 1.about.6. The suspension
member for speaker functions smoothly to provide all of the
features discussed earlier.
[0031] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *