U.S. patent application number 17/538390 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-17 for clip based speaker retention to a mounting surface.
The applicant listed for this patent is Avaya Inc.. Invention is credited to William James Horne, Philip Lo.
Application Number | 20220086546 17/538390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005999947 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220086546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horne; William James ; et
al. |
March 17, 2022 |
CLIP BASED SPEAKER RETENTION TO A MOUNTING SURFACE
Abstract
The technology disclosed herein enables retention of an audio
component on a mounting surface using a clip and a flange. In a
particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a mounting surface
including a flange. The flange is substantially cylindrical and
includes a first portion for positioning a frame of an audio
component therein under a retaining rim of the flange. The rim
includes a second portion of the flange with a smaller inner
diameter than the first portion of the flange. When the frame is
positioned in the first portion of the flange, a clip positioned in
the first portion of the flange between the frame and the retaining
rim of the flange retains the audio component within the flange.
Manipulating the shape of the clip allows the clip to fit through
the retaining rim and into the first portion of the flange.
Inventors: |
Horne; William James;
(Belleville, CA) ; Lo; Philip; (Ottawa,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Avaya Inc. |
Basking Ridge |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005999947 |
Appl. No.: |
17/538390 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15931885 |
May 14, 2020 |
11218787 |
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17538390 |
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16282694 |
Feb 22, 2019 |
10694273 |
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15931885 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/025 20130101;
H04R 2400/11 20130101; H04R 1/288 20130101; H04R 2201/021
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 1/02 20060101
H04R001/02; H04R 1/28 20060101 H04R001/28 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a mounting surface comprising a flange;
wherein the flange includes a first portion for positioning a frame
of an audio component therein under a retaining rim of the flange
comprising a second portion of the flange with a smaller inner
diameter than the first portion of the flange; wherein the flange
is substantially cylindrical; wherein, when the frame is positioned
in the first portion of the flange, a clip positioned in the first
portion of the flange between the frame and the retaining rim of
the flange retains the audio component within the flange; and
wherein manipulating the shape of the clip allows the clip to fit
through the retaining rim and into the first portion of the
flange.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a gap in a
perimeter of the clip.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, on each side of the gap, the
clip includes a tool grip point corresponding to a tool for
positioning the clip.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the frame is position in
the first portion of the flange, at least one vibration dampening
element positioned in the first portion of the flange isolates the
audio component from the mounting surface and the clip.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one vibration
dampening element is of similar shape to the frame.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio component faces the
mounting surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mounting surface includes
at least one opening through which sound passes.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio component faces away
from the mounting surface and an opening in the mounting surface
allows portions of the audio component, other than the frame, to
pass through the mounting surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a device that uses the
audio component, wherein the device includes the mounting
surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio component comprises
a microphone.
11. A method for retaining an audio component to a mounting
surface, comprising: positioning a frame of an audio component into
a first portion of a flange of a mounting surface. wherein the
frame is positioned under a retaining rim of the flange comprising
a second portion of the flange with a smaller inner diameter than
the first portion of the flange; wherein the flange is
substantially cylindrical; wherein, when the frame is positioned in
the first portion of the flange, a clip positioned in the first
portion of the flange between the frame and the retaining rim of
the flange retains the audio component within the flange; and
wherein manipulating the shape of the clip allows the clip to fit
through the retaining rim and into the first portion of the
flange.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the clip includes a gap in a
perimeter of the clip.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein manipulating the shape of the
clip comprises: squeezing the clip to reduce a size of the gap such
that the clip fits through the rim and into the first portion of
the flange; and releasing the clip once the clip is in the first
portion of the flange.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein manipulating the shape of the
clip comprises: gripping the clip on each side of the gap using a
positioning tool gripping onto grip points on each side of the
gap.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein, when the frame is position in
the first portion of the flange, at least one vibration dampening
element positioned in the first portion of the flange isolates the
audio component from the mounting surface and the clip.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one vibration
dampening element is of similar shape to the frame.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio component faces the
mounting surface.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mounting surface includes
at least one opening through which sound passes.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio component faces away
from the mounting surface and an opening in the mounting surface
allows portions of the audio component, other than the frame, to
pass through the mounting surface.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein the mounting surface is
included in a device that uses the audio component.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/931,885, entitled "CLIP BASED SPEAKER
RETENTION TO A MOUNTING SURFACE," filed May 14, 2020, which is a
continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 10,694,273, entitled "CLIP BASED
SPEAKER RETENTION TO A MOUNTING SURFACE," filed Feb. 22, 2019,
which are both hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0002] Traditionally, speakers have been retained on a mounting
surface of a product using rear supports from a rear cover of the
product or by screwing down a bracket that surrounds a perimeter of
a speaker. In other cases, a speaker is fastened with adhesives on
the perimeter of the speaker's frame or by screws into the mounting
surface through holes in the speaker's frame. These above examples
tend to require many parts (e.g., brackets, gaskets, screws, etc.),
which adds to cost and amount of labor needed for assembly. Some of
these examples, such as retention of a speaker using a rear cover
of the product, also transmits undesirable vibrations from the
speaker to the rear cover of the product. These vibrations can lead
to audio distortions and require greater efforts to compensate for
the loss of fidelity. Furthermore, vibrations to the rear cover can
cause rattles in other components of the product.
SUMMARY
[0003] The technology disclosed herein enables retention of an
audio component on a mounting surface using a clip and a flange. In
a particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a mounting surface
including a flange. The flange is substantially cylindrical and
includes a first portion for positioning a frame of an audio
component therein under a retaining rim of the flange. The rim
includes a second portion of the flange with a smaller inner
diameter than the first portion of the flange. When the frame is
positioned in the first portion of the flange, a clip positioned in
the first portion of the flange between the frame and the retaining
rim of the flange retains the audio component within the flange.
Manipulating the shape of the clip allows the clip to fit through
the retaining rim and into the first portion of the flange.
[0004] In some examples, the clip includes a gap in a perimeter of
the clip. In those examples, on each side of the gap, the clip may
include a tool grip point corresponding to a tool for positioning
the clip.
[0005] In some examples, when the frame is position in the first
portion of the flange, at least one vibration dampening element
positioned in the first portion of the flange isolates the audio
component from the mounting surface and the clip. The at least one
vibration dampening element may be of similar shape to the
frame.
[0006] In some examples, the audio component faces the mounting
surface. The mounting surface may include at least one opening
through which sound passes.
[0007] In some examples, the audio component faces away from the
mounting surface and an opening in the mounting surface allows
portions of the audio component, other than the frame, to pass
through the mounting surface.
[0008] In some examples, the apparatus includes a device that uses
the audio component, wherein the device includes the mounting
surface.
[0009] In some examples, the audio component includes a
microphone.
[0010] In another example, a method includes positioning a frame of
an audio component into a first portion of a flange of a mounting
surface. The frame is substantially cylindrical and is positioned
under a retaining rim of the flange. The retaining rim includes a
second portion of the flange with a smaller inner diameter than the
first portion of the flange. When the frame is positioned in the
first portion of the flange, a clip positioned in the first portion
of the flange between the frame and the retaining rim of the flange
retains the audio component within the flange. Manipulating the
shape of the clip allows the clip to fit through the retaining rim
and into the first portion of the flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of an unassembled speaker
retention apparatus in an implementation.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a view of an assembled speaker retention
apparatus in an implementation.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a profile view of a speaker retention
apparatus in an implementation.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates another profile view of a speaker
retention apparatus in an implementation.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates yet another profile view of a speaker
retention apparatus in an implementation.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates clips for a speaker retention apparatus
in various implementations.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a phone including a speaker retention
apparatus in an implementation.
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram for assembling a speaker
retention apparatus in an implementation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The manner of audio speaker retention described herein uses
fewer parts to assemble, which leads to reduced cost and a reduced
amount of labor when assembling a product that includes a speaker.
Furthermore, the speaker is not retained using a back face of a
product, so none of the vibrations caused by the speaker producing
sound are transferred through that back-face retention. Instead,
the mounting surface to which the speaker is retained includes a
flange into which the speaker is positioned. A clip holds the
speaker within the flange when placed between the speaker's frame
and a rim of the flange. Thus, to mount the speaker to the mounting
surface only two parts are required, the mounting surface itself
(with the required flange) and a clip, as described further
below.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of an unassembled speaker
retention apparatus 100 in an implementation. Unassembled speaker
retention apparatus 100 includes mounting surface 101, speaker 102,
and clip 103. Mounting surface 101 has flange 111 and flange 111
includes rim 112. For purposes of this example, the visible face of
mounting surface 101 is back face 114 while the face under mounting
surface 101 in its illustrated orientation is front face 115. This
convention for front and back is used because typically a speaker
will direct sound outward from the front face of a mounting
surface. However, there may exist examples where a speaker will
direct sound outward from a back face of a mounting surface.
[0021] Mounting surface 101 is preferably one piece but may also be
composed of multiple pieces assembled to create mounting surface
101. For example, a one-piece mounting surface 101 may be produced
from injection molded materials, such as plastic, may be 3D
printed, may be casted, or may be created using some other
manufacturing method. In another example, flange 111 may be mated
to the rest of mounting surface 101 using an adhesive or mechanical
fastener. While mounting surface 101 is shown as a simple
rectangular shape with flange 111, it should be understood that
mounting surface 101 may be a larger component, such as a panel for
a product that includes speaker 102, and may therefore take many
different shapes.
[0022] Speaker 102 in this example is a round speaker but could
take other substantially elliptic shapes, such as an oval shape
that is another common speaker shape. The shape of flange 111, at
least the interior thereof, is similar to the shape of frame 121 of
speaker 102 but is larger than frame 121 in order for speaker 102
to be positioned into flange 111. Similarly, mounting surface 101
in this example includes an opening 113 within flange 111 that
allows sound generated by speaker 102 to pass through mounting
surface 101. Opening 113 must be sized and/or shaped such that,
once speaker 102 is positioned within flange 111, speaker 102 does
not pass through mounting surface 101. While opening 113 in
mounting surface 101 is similar in shape to frame 121, the opening
in other examples may take other shapes and/or may include multiple
openings as long as that shape or multiple opening arrangement does
not allow frame 121 to pass through mounting surface 101 when
placed in flange 111.
[0023] Flange 111 includes rim 112 at the top of flange 111 that
reduces the internal size of flange 111 at the location of rim 112.
In this example, rim 112 comprises six tabs but more or fewer tabs
of different sizes may be used in other examples as long as rim 112
is still able to perform as described herein. In some cases, rim
112 may go around the entirety of flange 111 rather than being
split into tabs, as shown. The number and size of the tabs may
depend on the material and size of clip 103 to ensure that clip 103
can be positioned properly within flange 111 while still being
rigid enough to hold speaker 102 in flange 111 once positioned. In
some examples, the diameter of frame 121 may be smaller than the
inner diameter of rim 112 to ensure speaker 102 can be positioned
into flange 111, although, in other examples, the arrangement of
tabs that make up rim 112 may such that a larger diameter frame 121
can pass through rim 112 in certain orientations.
[0024] As alluded to above, clip 103 is positioned within flange
111 after speaker 102 has been placed within flange 111. In
particular, clip 103 is shaped similarly to frame 121 and flange
111 such that clip 103 can fit around all but frame 121 of speaker
102 and within flange 111 while still being held within flange 111
by rim 112. This allows clip 103 to hold speaker 102 in flange 111
since rim 112 holds clip 103 in flange 111 while clip 103 in turn
holds speaker 102 within flange 111. In order to fit clip 103 under
rim 112 and into flange 111 clip 103 is manipulated (e.g., bent,
squeezed, flexed, or otherwise misshapen) to fit within the
diameter of rim 112. Clip 103 is composed of a material, including
some types of plastics and some metals, that causes clip 103 to
return to its original shape, at least when manipulated to the
extent necessary to fit clip 103 within rim 112, when placed in
flange 111. In this example, clip 103 includes a gap in the
perimeter of its elliptic shape to make manipulating the shape of
clip 103 to fit through rim 112 easier. The gap forms what, in some
applications, is called a c-clip and may be any size as long as it
still allows clip 103 to hold speaker 102 in flange 111. In other
examples, possibly depending on the material composition of clip
103, clip 103 may not include a gap in its elliptic shape and still
be able to be manipulated to fit under rim 112 and into flange
111.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a view of an assembled speaker retention
apparatus 200 in an implementation. Assembled speaker retention
apparatus 200 represents unassembled speaker retention apparatus
100 once speaker 102 and clip 103 have been positioned in flange
111 of mounting surface 101. As can be seen in assembled speaker
retention apparatus 200, speaker 102 is within flange 111 and frame
121 has not passed through opening 113. Clip 103 is tucked under
rim 112 and on top of frame 121 to hold speaker 102 within flange
111 and up against mounting surface 101. Preferably, clip 103 holds
frame 121 tightly enough within flange 111 that frame 121 cannot
move within flange 111 under normal operation of speaker 102 since
the vibrations of speaker 102 and/or movement of mounting surface
101 (or the system/device of which mounting surface 101 is a part)
could otherwise cause speaker 102 to move and cause undesirable
effects (e.g., rattles, poor audio, etc.).
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates a profile view of speaker retention
apparatus 300 in an implementation. Speaker retention apparatus 300
represents a cutaway through the widest part of speaker 102 in
assembled speaker retention apparatus 200 where tabs of rim 112,
tab 301 and tab 302, are on either side of flange 111. Speaker
retention apparatus 300 clearly shows how mounting surface 101,
speaker 102, and clip 103 fit together to retain speaker 102 to
mounting surface 101 in flange 111. In this example, the diameter
of frame 121 is smaller than the opening between tab 301 and tab
302 so speaker 102 can be placed into flange without having
manipulate the orientation of speaker 102 to pass through spaces
between tabs of rim 112. The diameter of frame 121 is also greater
than the distance across opening 113 so that frame 121 does not
pass through mounting surface 101. Clip 103 is placed above frame
121 and is wide enough on each side to overlap each of tab 301 and
tab 302, and frame 121. Once in place, clip 103 effectively extends
the reach of rim 112 by reducing the distance across the opening of
rim 112 to prevent frame 121 from coming out of flange 111 while
clip 103 is in position.
[0027] As can be gleaned from the discussion above, only the
internal configuration/dimensions of flange 111 are important for
retaining speaker 102. As such while the outside of flange 111 is
shown as rising straight up on mounting surface 101, other external
flange configurations may be used. For example, mounting surface
101 may taper to the top of flange 111 or mounting surface 101 may
be thicker to reduce the amount that flange 111 protrudes from the
rest of mounting surface 101 (possibly making the top of flange 111
be flush with the rest of mounting surface 101).
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates profile view of a speaker retention
apparatus 400 in an implementation. The profile view in this
example is similar to that of FIG. 3 but speaker 102 is positioned
in flange 111 in the opposite orientation from the examples above.
While the other examples show speaker 102 in an orientation that
directs sound through opening 113 in mounting surface 101, speaker
retention apparatus 400 directs sound through the opening between
rim 112 of flange 111. In this example, back face 114 may be
considered the front face of mounting surface 101. The speaker
orientation of speaker 102 in speaker retention apparatus 400 may
be beneficial in examples where a speaker may be changed
frequently, therefore, easy access to clip 103 is advantageous. All
the dimensional requirements of flange 111, rim 112, clip 103, and
frame 121 remain the same as speaker retention apparatus 300,
although opening 113 in this example now needs to be large enough
for the components of speaker 102 to fit through. Clip 103 still
holds speaker 102 in flange 111 by being placed between rim 112 and
frame 121.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a profile view of a speaker retention
apparatus 500 in an implementation. In this example, speaker
retention apparatus 500 has a spacer 501 that helps fill extra
space in flange 111 between the base of mounting surface 101 and
rim 112 not taken up by frame 121 and clip 103. When seen from
above, spacer 501 may have an elliptic shape similar to that of
clip 103 and frame 121. Spacer 501 may have a gap similar to that
of clip 103 to assist in placing spacer 501 within flange 111. In
some examples, spacer 501 may be attached within flange 111 or to
frame 121 and, in those examples, spacer 501 may be split into
different segments like the tabs of rim 112. In some examples,
spacer 501 may comprise a vibration dampening material that helps
mitigate vibration transfer from speaker 102 to mounting surface
101, such as soft plastic, rubber, foam, etc. The use of spacer 501
in a vibration dampening material may be especially beneficial when
frame 121 is not covered, at least partially, with a vibration
dampening material, as opposed to being a harder material, such as
metal or plastic. In this example, spacer 501 in profile forms
around frame. In other examples spacer 501 may have a similar shape
to clip 103 and at least one of which may be placed above and/or
below frame 121. The use of spacer 501 may also help prevent frame
121 and clip 103 from moving around in flange 111 in examples where
frame 121 and clip 103 do not otherwise fill the vertical space
between mounting surface 101 and rim 112. Likewise, spacer 501 as
illustrated can fill more of the space between the edge of frame
121 and the inner side of flange 111, which will help prevent side
to side motion of speaker 102 within flange 111.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates clip 601 and clip 602 for a speaker
retention apparatus in various implementations. Clip 601 and clip
602 are alternative examples of clip 103. Clip 601 and clip 602
include physical features on either side of their respective gaps
to make manipulating the shape of clip 601 and clip 602 to fit past
rim 112 into flange 111. In particular, clip 601 includes hole 611
and hole 612 for into which a tool is placed when positioning clip
601 in, or removing clip 601 from, flange 111. For example, a
pliers-type tool with tips narrow enough to fit into hole 611 and
hole 612 may be used to squeeze clip 601 to reduce the size of the
gap therein, which allows clip 601 to fit through rim 112. Clip 602
includes tab 621 and tab 622 on either side of the gap. Tab 621 and
tab 622 may help a person grip clip 602 to squeeze clip 602 when
placing clip 602 into, or removing clip 602 from, flange 111.
Alternatively, a tool may, such as a pliers-type tool, be used to
grip tab 621 and tab 622 for placement and removal.
[0031] It should be understood that, while tab 621, tab 622, hole
611, and hole 612 are each placed right next to the gaps in their
respective clip 601 and clip 602, tab 621, tab 622, hole 611, and
hole 612 may be positioned elsewhere on clip 601 and clip 602 as
long as the functionality described above is maintained. Similarly,
the grip points offered by tab 621, tab 622, hole 611, and hole 612
may take forms other than holes and tabs while maintaining the same
functionality.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates phone 700 including a speaker retention
apparatus in an implementation. Phone 700 includes face plate 701,
handset 702, and dial pad 703. Handset 702 and dial pad 703 are
common telephone components used to talk and user input. Face plate
701 is an example of mounting surface 101 when incorporated into a
larger device. The entirety of face plate 701 may be one continuous
piece or may be comprise of multiple pieces assembled together. The
front of face plate 701 is currently in view in FIG. 7. The front
of face plate 701 is an example of front face 115 of mounting
surface 101 and includes speaker cover 704. Speaker cover 704 in
this example includes a cross hatching of face plate 701's material
to allow passage of sound generated by a speaker mounted to the
back of face plate 701 in the manner described herein. Speaker
cover 704 is therefore an example of opening 113 from above. In
other examples, speaker cover 704 may be made of materials
different from the rest of face plate 701 (e.g., may be a mesh
insert). While not shown, a flange similar to flange 111 exists on
the back of face plate 701 and a speaker is retained therein,
facing outward through speaker cover 704, by a clip similar to clip
103 in a manner similar to that described in FIGS. 1-3 and/or 5
above.
[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram representing method 800
for assembling a speaker retention apparatus in an implementation.
Method 800 includes positioning frame 121 of speaker 102 into
flange 111 (801). Speaker 102 may be positioned such that speaker
102 faces into flange 111 and towards back face 114, as shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, or may be positioned such that speaker 102
faces out of flange 111 and away from back face 114. In some
examples, spacer(s) 501 may be positioned around frame 121 for
vibration dampening, space filling, movement limiting, or for some
other reason (802).
[0034] After speaker 102 (and spacer(s) 501 if used) are
positioned, clip 103 is position into flange 111 between frame 121
and rim 112 to hold speaker 102 (and spacer(s) 501 if used) within
flange 111 (803). As discussed above, clip 103 may be squeezed so
as to reduce the size of a gap therein, which reduces the
dimensions of clip 103 enough to pass through rim 112. Clip 103 can
then be released once past rim 112 and in flange 111 so that clip
103 can return to dimensions that retain clip 103 within rim 112.
In some cases, grip points like those shown in FIG. 6 may be used
to squeeze clip 103. Other manners of manipulating clip 103 past
rim 112 and into flange 111 may also be used.
[0035] While the above examples focus on retaining an audio speaker
to a mounting surface, other types of similarly shaped audio
components may be retained in a similar manner. For example, a
microphone with an elliptic frame similar to the speaker frames
described above may be retained within a flange of a mounting
surface using a clip between the frame and a rim of the flange.
[0036] The descriptions and figures included herein depict specific
implementations of the claimed invention(s). For the purpose of
teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been
simplified or omitted. In addition, some variations from these
implementations may be appreciated that fall within the scope of
the invention. It may also be appreciated that the features
described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple
implementations. As a result, the invention is not limited to the
specific implementations described above, but only by the claims
and their equivalents.
* * * * *