U.S. patent application number 11/226599 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for loudspeaker baffle board extender.
Invention is credited to Stephen Glen Marlowe.
Application Number | 20070056796 11/226599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37853925 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070056796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marlowe; Stephen Glen |
March 15, 2007 |
Loudspeaker baffle board extender
Abstract
A Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extender that functionally improves
the sound quality of cabinet-type loudspeaker systems. The
Extenders are located one to each side of a loudspeaker cabinet and
may be built into the cabinet for pull-out/push-in, hinged for
folding open or closed or an L-shaped structurally stiff material
attached to the loudspeaker cabinet in a manner that enables easy
installation and removal or opening or closing.
Inventors: |
Marlowe; Stephen Glen;
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN GLEN MARLOWE
134 E. FOOTHILL DRIVE
PHOENIX
AZ
85020
US
|
Family ID: |
37853925 |
Appl. No.: |
11/226599 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/199 ;
181/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
181/199 ;
181/148 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/06 20060101
A47B081/06 |
Claims
1. A loudspeaker baffle board extender for improving the volume,
directionality, projection, frequency response, dynamic range and
tonality of audio loudspeaker cabinets, comprising: a loudspeaker
baffle board extender; a front leg, having curved or straight ends,
for increasing the loudspeaker baffle board radiating surface area;
and an attachment leg, for attaching the loudspeaker baffle
extender to the loudspeaker cabinet so as to accomplish the purpose
of increasing the baffle board radiating surface area or to use the
baffle extenders to protect the cabinet's front edges during
transport and storage.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to sound reproduction, and,
more particularly, to any type of presentation that utilizes audio
loudspeaker cabinets as an audible sound source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As a professional musician and music studio Engineer, it was
of interest why, when playing live amplified music (i.e.: electric
guitar), I could stand just a few feet away from my loudspeaker
cabinet yet have trouble hearing its emanating sounds if other
musicians were on stage generating a combined volume above moderate
volume levels.
[0003] It occurred to me that the most "present" sounding
loudspeakers I had ever heard were in professional music studios
where the speakers (monitors) were literally mounted within a wall
or soffit facing out toward the studio's control room where
critical recording, mixing and engineering functions were
performed. Acoustical Engineers and Acousticians often install
loudspeakers directly into a room's wall or soffit thus providing a
larger effective front radiating surface surrounding the speaker
drivers. This installation technique, often called "soffit
mounting" or "flush mounting", improves frequency linearity,
dynamic and transient response and virtually all aspects of a
loudspeaker's performance. While the internal enclosed air volume
within the soffit behind the drivers is specifically tailored to
the drivers' design specifications, soffit mounting allows a larger
front baffle than would be possible with a "stand alone"
loudspeaker cabinet. Listeners often comment that audio content
heard over soffit-mounted loudspeakers is more "present" and
"realistic" (as opposed to freestanding cabinet loudspeaker
systems)
[0004] Well-designed and constructed freestanding audio loudspeaker
cabinets specifically optimize the internal air volume of the
cabinet enclosure for the chosen drivers (speakers.)
[0005] However, the size of the cabinet's front surface (its front
baffle board in which the speaker drivers are mounted) can
optimally be larger than most cabinets provide, though they may be
correct in size to create the required internal cabinet air
volume.
[0006] This is why the soffit-mounting installation technique is so
common in professional studio applications where the ability to
critically listen is so very important.
[0007] However, not all loudspeaker cabinets can be soffit mounted
due to a room's design, space restrictions or the nature of the
intended audio applications. Additionally, many loudspeaker systems
must remain portable, especially those intended for professional
sound reinforcement and musical instrument amplification (i.e.: on
stage.)
[0008] Therefore, I executed experimentation wherein the baffle
boards of professional loudspeaker cabinets were increased by
adding one to six inches of surface area to the left and right
sides of the cabinet itself in an effort to obtain a degree of
sound improvement like that heard from soffit wall mounting.
[0009] Surprisingly, when each test cabinet had its baffle board
extended, the emanating sound was far more present and easier to
hear, even though other loud instruments might be playing nearby.
Further testing revealed not only an increase in the apparent
presence of the sound, but also enhanced tonality and overall
fidelity, again, similar to the improvements wrought from soffit
mounting.
[0010] This new invention, Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders (also
called "Sound Wings"), when used in pairs, effectively adds surface
area to a loudspeaker cabinet's front baffle board. The Extenders
are easily installed and removed making them ideal for portable
loudspeaker cabinets--the type often used by musicians and singers
and in professional sound reinforcement applications. The Extenders
are particularly effective at improving a loudspeaker system's
presentation of voice and musical instruments during live
performances. For a musician or singer relying upon an on-stage
loudspeaker cabinet to hear and present their performance so an
audience hears excellent quality sound, this invention is a
tremendous boon. Moreover, the Extenders may be used on loudspeaker
cabinets for any audio application and purpose.
[0011] At high frequencies, a loudspeaker driver radiates sound
directly forward. However, generally, the lower frequencies are
omni-directional and tend to travel not only directly outwards
towards the listener (the audience), but also out towards the sides
and rear of the cabinet.
[0012] In most rooms, freestanding loudspeaker cabinets are
surrounded by walls, ceiling and floor surfaces as well as by
various room articles. These nearby surfaces act as "acoustical
mirrors" and can generate reflections. Even when a loudspeaker
cabinet is set upon a stage or outdoors, some degree of adjacent
reflective surfaces can usually be found.
[0013] Thus, when the more omni-directional sound waves emanate
from the loudspeaker drivers and work their way around to the sides
and rear of the cabinet, they ultimately come in contact with said
reflective surfaces. The resultant sound reflections then travel
back to interfere with the direct sound from the speaker drivers,
and further, they reflect back towards the listener.
[0014] Depending upon the relative amplitude (volume) and phase (a
sound frequency wave's up/down relationship to other frequency
waves) of the direct vs. reflected sound, the negative effect
created when the two are mixed can be an undesirable difference
between various frequencies, which ideally would have similar
amplitude and a phase relationships that do not conflict.
[0015] When sound waves have conflicting phase relationship, they
can literally cancel each other. Under such circumstances, certain
frequencies can markedly drop in amplitude causing not only a loss
of overall "sound power" emanating from the speaker cabinet, but
also an undesirable alteration to the tonal balance (frequency
balance) of the sound.
[0016] It is of note that when a loudspeaker is mounted flush
within a wall (soffit mounted), there is primarily direct radiated
sound heard by the listener because, unlike freestanding
loudspeaker cabinets, there is no way for omni-directional sound
waves to travel off to the sides and towards the rear of a cabinet;
the soffit acting as one large extended baffle board. Because of
this effect, the total "sound power" radiated into the room is
increased compared to a freestanding loudspeaker cabinet that
produces sound mixed with spurious, random reflections.
[0017] When the Loudspeaker Baffle Extenders are employed, one to
each side of a loudspeaker's cabinet, additional baffle board
radiation surface is provided and nearby surface reflected sound
wave interference reduced. Sound power radiating outward is
increased, similar to soffit mounting, and the Extenders hinder the
omni-directional lower frequencies from traveling around towards
the sides and rear of the cabinet. Moreover, these reflections
traveling back to mix with the direct sound are also partially
blocked by the Extenders.
[0018] Most commercially available speaker cabinets are designed to
deliver a somewhat flat frequency response when operated in the
free field (with no surrounding reflective surfaces.) If such a
cabinet is then flush (soffit) mounted, its frequency response will
no longer be flat, but will usually have a noticeable bass boost (a
lower frequency increase.)
[0019] Similar to this effect, the Extenders also encourage a
higher percentage of lower frequencies to radiate directly from the
baffle board (the cabinet's existing baffle board plus Extenders).
Therefore, more of these frequencies arrive sooner to the listener
because they are hindered from traveling around to the sides and to
the back of the cabinet. Instead they go in a more forward
direction outward towards the listener from the baffle board. These
"additional" lower frequencies (as received by the listener) are
also improved as regards to their time coherency relationship to
the already directional higher frequencies because they are
radiating out towards the listener from the baffle board, rather
from adjacent reflective room surfaces. And, because the listener
effectively hears an increase in the relative amount of lower
frequencies to high frequencies, the resulting sound quality can be
described as "richer" or as "having more body". This is due to an
increase of mid-bass and bass frequencies relative to the higher
direct frequencies as heard by the listener.
[0020] The Extenders also offer an improved focus of the sound
towards the audience by increasing the percentage of direct
radiating audio frequencies and hindering reflected sound.
[0021] Soffit mounting also obviates another audible anomaly that a
freestanding cabinet imparts: The "diffraction effect". This effect
forms at the very front edges of cabinet when the omni-directional
frequencies seek to travel around towards the cabinet's sides and
rear. Sometimes referred to as "secondary reflections", diffracted
sound waves can be quite intrusive as they are slightly delayed
compared to the original (direct) sound.
[0022] This new invention, Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders,
extends two "edges" of the cabinet's baffle board outward, away
from the speaker drivers (the actual original source of the
cabinet's sound) and the Extenders effectively reduce the physical
size of cabinet's meeting edge planes. Moreover, the addition of
the Extenders tends to "break up" the surface of said said cabinet
corners by adding the surfaces of the Extenders themselves. As a
result, undesirable diffraction effect is reduced; the cabinet's
corner edges being effectively altered in a way that results in an
audible improvement in sound quality reaching the listener.
[0023] In summary, the application of Loudspeaker Baffle Board
Extenders limits unwanted secondary sound radiation from the
loudspeaker cabinet's original edges and thereby improves the
quality of sound radiating towards the listener due to a
minimization of diffraction effects.
[0024] Some speaker designers have attempted to increase the front
baffle board surface area of their cabinet in an effort to obtain a
general improvement in sound quality, however, in doing so, they
have also increased the overall size of the cabinet, including the
internal air volume behind the speaker drivers to an amount in
excess of that recommended by the loudspeaker driver's
designer/manufacturer, thus degrading the driver's performance.
[0025] No one has yet invented an extension device used in pairs to
effectively increase the surface area of a loudspeaker cabinet's
front baffle board without also altering any other aspect of the
cabinet's size or design. Moreover, no one has ever invented an
baffle board extension device that is portable so working musicians
and singers can easily install and remove them on loudspeaker
cabinets designed for portability.
[0026] Additionally, loudspeaker cabinet users have attempted to
position their cabinets in such a way as to avoid or reduce
unwanted spurious reflections from adjacent surfaces. However, such
efforts can easily place a cabinet at variance to the best location
for the listener to receive quality sound. For example, the speaker
cabinet might have far less interaction with a room's surfaces if
were to be located very close to a wall, but such a position can
alter its frequency response and place it too far away from the
listener to receive correct sound.
[0027] It is therefore an object of the invention to increase the
percentage of directional sound frequencies emanating from a given
loudspeaker cabinet and to thereby increase overall sound power
with improved fidelity.
[0028] It is another object of the invention to limit the edge
diffraction effect that normally occurs at the edges of a given
loudspeaker cabinet and thereby improve its overall sound
quality.
[0029] It is another object of the invention to acoustically
increase the lower frequency response of the loudspeaker thus
enabling the speaker drivers to operate more efficiently and
thereby improve overall sound quality.
[0030] It is another object of the invention to provide those
individuals who are presenting or performing with the aide of
cabinet loudspeakers an improved ability to hear their
loudspeaker(s) and to better focus and project their sound out to
their audience with improved clarity and fidelity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0031] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extender that functionally enhances the
sound quality of cabinet-type loudspeaker systems.
[0032] Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders are particularly
effective at improving a cabinet loudspeaker's presentation of
voice and music.
[0033] Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders are either built into a
loudspeaker's cabinet for pull-out/push-in, hinged for
fold-out/fold-in or as an "L-shape" with one leg of the "L"
attached to the cabinet and the other leg of the "L" performing as
the baffle board extension.
[0034] Utilization of the Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders
increases the effective front baffle board radiation surface the
speaker drivers. This better focuses the sound towards the listener
and lessens anomalies common to freestanding speaker cabinets.
[0035] All loudspeakers cabinets can benefit from Loudspeaker
Baffle Board Extenders for the following reasons: [0036] The
percentage of direct radiating frequencies is increased for better
"presence" of the sound [0037] Lessens the cancellation reflections
from nearby reflective surfaces [0038] Edge diffraction effect is
reduced [0039] Acoustically, lower frequencies are increased and,
therefore, the speaker drivers operate more efficiently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] A complete understanding of the present invention may be
obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered
in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in
which:
[0041] FIG. 1 is a front view of a left and right pair of
loudspeaker baffle board extenders;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a side and end view of a single loudspeaker baffle
board extender;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of loudspeaker baffle
board extenders attached to a musical instrument amplifier with
built-in loudspeaker;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of loudspeaker baffle
board extenders attached to a professional sound reinforcement
loudspeaker speaker cabinet;
[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of loudspeaker baffle
board extenders repositioned upon a musical instrument amplifier
cabinet with built-in loudspeaker for transport or storage;
[0046] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pair of loudspeaker baffle
board extenders attached to "slant cabinet" musical instrument
loudspeaker cabinet;
[0047] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a loudspeaker cabinet
that has built-in loudspeaker baffle board extenders which can be
pulled out or pushed in when not required, such as for transport or
storage;
[0048] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a loudspeaker cabinet
having hinged loudspeaker baffle board extenders for fold-out or
fold-in when not required, such as for transport or storage;
[0049] FIG. 9 is a top view of a loudspeaker cabinet's normal edge
diffraction effect reduced by the addition of a loudspeaker baffle
extender; and
[0050] FIG. 10 is a top view of a loudspeaker cabinet with spurious
reflected sound waves (generated from room surfaces or room
objects) reduced by the addition of a loudspeaker baffle
extender.
[0051] For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and
components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout
the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0052] FIG. 1 is a front view of a left and right pair of
Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders. The Extenders can be fabricated
from plastic, wood, metal, composite, resin, fiber or other ridged
material or substance. They can be molded, bent, extruded or
formed.
[0053] FIG. 2 is a side and end view of a single Loudspeaker Baffle
Extender. The angle pictured is at 90 degrees, however some
loudspeaker cabinets may require a different angle. For example, if
the sides the loudspeaker cabinet are not perpendicular to its
front baffle, the Loudspeaker Baffle Extender would be formed with
the appropriate angle or shape that would allow it to be connected
to the cabinet while placing the Extender's front face parallel to
the cabinet's existing baffle surface. Note: Some loudspeakers and
their intended audio application may benefit from the Baffle Board
Extender being non-parallel to the existing cabinet baffle board
surface to help better direct the sound to a specific location
and/or to improve frequency response. Also, some loudspeaker
designs can benefit from having the Extenders built into the
cabinet in such as way that the user can pull or fold them out when
required, then return them to their closed (or enclosed) position
for storage or transport.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders attached to a musical instrument amplifier cabinet
with a built-in loudspeaker. The Extenders may be attached using
hook and loop fastener material (allowing them to be removed) or by
utilizing screws, nuts and bolts, glue, double-sided tape or any
other method that will attach the Extenders firmly to the cabinet.
They may also be hinged or built into the cabinet and pulled or
folded out into position.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders attached to a professional sound reinforcement
audio loudspeaker cabinet. (The Extenders are effective on all
types of loudspeaker cabinets, including those for home audio,
theater, musical instrument amplification, indoor and outdoor sound
reinforcement and critical audio monitoring.)
[0056] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pair of Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders repositioned and attached to a musical instrument
amplifier cabinet with built-in loudspeaker for transport or
storage. Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders are used in mirrored
pairs and, when attached to the loudspeaker cabinet in reverse,
they provide a degree of protection for the cabinet itself. The
left Extender is taken off the cabinet's left side and attached to
the cabinet's right side and the right Extender is repositioned
upon the cabinet's left, as pictured in FIG. 5. In this way the
Extenders are properly positioned for transport or storage of the
cabinet and, they help protect the cabinet's front side edges.
Musical instrument and public address loudspeaker cabinets are
frequently transported, moved, stored, shipped and sometimes placed
in shipping containers or covered with a fitted protective cover.
The ability of the Extenders to be positioned optimally for
transport and storage is a considerable benefit to consumers,
especially working musicians and audio professionals who use
portable loudspeaker cabinet systems.
[0057] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pair of Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders applied to a "slant cabinet" musical instrument
loudspeaker cabinet. Loudspeaker Baffle Board Extenders can be
formed to accommodate the large size and backward slant of such
cabinets, which are frequently used for electric guitar
amplification in large performance venues.
[0058] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders built into the cabinet, able to be pulled out for
use or pushed in when not required, such as for transport or
storage.
[0059] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing Loudspeaker Baffle
Board Extenders hinged for fold-out or fold-in when not required,
such as for transport or storage.
[0060] FIG. 9 is a top view showing the addition of a Loudspeaker
Baffle Extender reducing the edge diffraction effect common to
loudspeaker cabinets.
[0061] FIG. 10 is a top view showing the addition of a Loudspeaker
Baffle Extender reducing spurious sound reflections (from room
surfaces or room objects).
[0062] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit
particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered
limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and
covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute
departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
[0063] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be
protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently
appended claims.
* * * * *