U.S. patent number 3,855,429 [Application Number 05/348,685] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for loudspeaker fixture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to U.S. Philips Corporation. Invention is credited to Gunter Krainhofer.
United States Patent |
3,855,429 |
Krainhofer |
December 17, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
LOUDSPEAKER FIXTURE
Abstract
A loudspeaker fixture for mounting a loudspeaker to a baffle by
means of a clamping plate consisting of two hinged parts, one of
which engages the loudspeaker, while not obstructing the
loudspeaker aperture.
Inventors: |
Krainhofer; Gunter (Solms,
DT) |
Assignee: |
U.S. Philips Corporation (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
5848049 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/348,685 |
Filed: |
April 6, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 19, 1972 [DT] |
|
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2229679 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
381/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P
25/08 (20180101); C07D 215/38 (20130101); C07D
401/04 (20130101); F16B 5/0664 (20130101); H04R
1/021 (20130101); C07D 215/18 (20130101); C07D
403/14 (20130101); G03G 15/16 (20130101); H04R
1/025 (20130101); F16B 2/02 (20130101); C07D
401/14 (20130101); F16B 5/065 (20130101); C07D
215/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16B
2/02 (20060101); F16B 5/06 (20060101); H04R
1/02 (20060101); H04r 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;179/146R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cooper; William C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Trifari; Frank R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A loudspeaker fixture for mounting a loudspeaker to the rear of
a loudspeaker baffle by means of a clamping plate which engages
with the fixing flange of the loudspeaker and which does not
obstruct the loudspeaker aperture, characterized in that the
clamping plate consists of two parts which can be pivoted relative
to each other, and one of which is secured to the loudspeaker
chassis, and that insertion hooks have been provided near those
edges of the clamping plate parts which face away from the hinge,
by means of which hooks said edges can be attached to the edges of
the loudspeaker aperture, and that the axial distance between the
hooks is slightly smaller than the distance between the associated
clamping plate edges and the edges of the loudspeaker aperture
respectively, so that when the bent clamping plate is depressed
into the plane of the loudspeaker baffle the entire plate is
compressed axially between the hooks, thus securing the
loudspeaker.
2. Loudspeaker fixture is claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the hooks are mounted on the edges of the clamping plate parts
facing away from the hinge in such a way that their openings face
the edge of the loudspeaker aperture.
3. Loudspeaker fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
a latching spring has been provided at the edge of the pivoted
clamping plate part facing away from the hinge, which spring snaps
over the loudspeaker chassis when the clamping plate is
depressed.
4. Loudspeaker fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the hinge between the clamping plate parts which can be pivoted
relative to each other is constituted by a film hinge formed by a
groove in the clamping plate.
5. A loudspeaker fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the hinge extends in the direction of the minor axis of the
ellipse in the case of an oval loudspeaker.
6. A fixture for mounting a loudspeaker to a loudspeaker baffle
frame which has defined therein an aperture having sides and end
edges and a predetermined length dimension between said end edges,
the fixture comprising a clamping plate formed of first and second
parts with a pivot joint between them and first and second ends of
said parts remote from said joint, one of said plate parts adapted
to having the loudspeaker securable thereto, said plate parts being
pivotable between a first V-shape orientation with length between
said ends being less than said length of the aperture, and a second
generally flat orientation with length between said ends being
greater than in said first orientation, and engaging means for
engaging each of said ends to one of said end edges of the
aperture, whereby when said loudspeaker is secured to one of said
plate parts and said parts are pivoted to said first orientation,
the speaker is mountable to said baffle by engaging via said
engaging means the first plate part end to one of said end edges of
the aperture, pivoting said parts to said second orientation, and
then engaging the second plate part end to the remaining end edge
of the aperture.
7. A fixture according to claim 6 wherein said engaging means
comprises a hook on each of said plate part remote ends for
engaging one of said end edges of the aperture.
8. A fixture according to claim 6 wherein said engaging means
comprises a hook on each end edge of the aperture for engaging one
of said plate part ends.
9. A fixture according to claim 6 further comprising securing means
for releasably securing said loudspeaker to said second plate part
when said parts are in said second orientation.
10. A fixture according to claim 9 wherein said securing means is a
spring on said second plate part for engaging said loudspeaker.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a loudspeaker fixture for mounting a
loudspeaker to the rear of a loudspeaker baffle by means of a
clamping plate which engages a fixing flange of the loudspeaker and
which does not obstruct the loudspeaker aperture.
Particularly with motor cars rear mounting of loudspeakers is of
great significance, because the loudspeakers are mounted in
different places behind the dashboard of the vehicle from the rear.
Generally speaking, no screws should extend through the loudspeaker
chassis and the loudspeaker baffle to the front of the dashboard;
nor is it acceptable to secure the loudspeaker by means of screws
from the front of the instrument board.
A known method is to attach the flange of the loudspeaker chassis
to a rubber plate, which in turn is cemented to the loudspeaker
baffle from the rear of the dashboard. Such attachment is simple,
but does not permit removal of the rubber plate from the
loudspeaker baffle without damaging the plate.
Whereas the rubber plate in principle surrounds the fixing flange
of the loudspeaker chassis, the clamping plate described in German
"Gebrauchsmuster" 7131005 has been provided with hooks which grip
around the loudspeaker chassis. Although the loudspeaker is thus
mounted to the clamping plate in a detachable manner, it is still
necessary to cement the clamping plate to the loudspeaker baffle of
a radio receiver for example.
Finally, it is known from German "Gebrauchsmuster" 1996537 and
6930691, to provide hook-shaped projections on the loudspeaker
baffle itself which grip around the flange of a loudspeaker
chassis. However, such hooks can be fitted only when the type and
dimensions of the loudspeaker to be mounted to the baffle are
precisely known, which is generally the case when manufacturing
radio and television apparatus as well as loudspeaker enclosures.
Such hooks are not suited for mounting in motor cars, because
loudspeakers of various makes, and thus of various dimensions, are
to be fitted behind the dashboards of motor cars.
SUMMARY OF THE NEW INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a loudspeaker fixture
which can be adapted to a loudspeaker aperture provided in a
loudspeaker baffle, and by means of which the loudspeaker can be
clamped in place from the rear.
With a loudspeaker fixture of the type mentioned in the preamble,
this problem is solved in that the clamping plate consists of two
parts which can be pivoted relative to each other, and one of which
is secured to the loudspeaker chassis. Insertion hooks have been
provided near those edges of the clamping plate parts which face
away from the hinge, by means of which hooks said edges can be
attached to the edges of the loudspeaker aperture. The distance
between the hooks is slightly smaller than the distance between the
associated clamping plate edges and the edges of the loudspeaker
aperture respectively, so that when the bent clamping plate is
depressed into the plane of the loudspeaker aperture the entire
plate is tensioned between the hooks, thus securing the
loudspeaker. With such a loudspeaker, fixture clamping plates
fixture clamping plates ready-made for a certain type of motor car
are employed, and according to the type of apparatus the
loudspeakers need merely be fixed onto these clamping plates.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention the hooks, whose
openings face the edge of the loudspeaker aperture, are mounted on
those edges of the clamping plate part which are facing away from
the hinge. When the clamping plate is bent the hooks can be readily
slid onto the edges of the loudspeaker baffle. If the loudspeaker
is subsequently pressed against this baffle, the hooks are forced
apart and exert a tension on the opposite edges of the loudspeaker
aperture. The loudspeaker can then only be removed from the
loudspeaker baffle by pulling it off the baffle by force, so that
the clamping plate bends after the dead point has been overcome and
is detached from the loudspeaker baffle.
In another alternative embodiment of the invention a latching
spring has been provided at that edge of the pivoted part of the
clamping plate which faces away from the hinge, which spring grips
over the loudspeaker chassis when the clamping plate is depressed.
As a result, it is no longer necessary to depress the clamping
plate beyond its dead point.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention the hinge between the
clamping plate parts that can be pivoted relative to each other is
a film hinge constituted by a groove in the clamping plate.
Finally, in the case of an oval loudspeaker, the hinge extends in
the direction of the minor axis of the ellipse. As a result, the
hooks are spaced further apart, thus providing a reliable
locking.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the following embodiment and the drawings
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a loudspeaker fixture according to the invention prior
to mounting, and
FIG. 2 shows the loudspeaker fixture according to FIG. 1 in the
mounted condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawing shows a sectional view of a dashboard 1 of a motorcar.
This dashboard 1 consists of a baffle 3 and a grille 5 covering the
baffle. In the baffle 3 a loudspeaker aperture 7 has been provided,
which has an elliptical shape when loudspeaker 9 is also
elliptical. The aperture 7 may just as well be rectangular or
polygonal, in accordance with the shape of the loudspeaker used.
Aperture 7 is always adapted to match the chassis of the
loudspeaker 9.
The loudspeaker 9 to be mounted to baffle 3 may be attached to a
first part 11' of a clamping plate 11 by means of screws. A second
part 11" of the clamping plate 11 is connected to the part 11' by
means of a hinge or pivot joint 8. This hinge is formed by a groove
in the clamping plate 11, thus constituting a film hinge. When
using an oval loudspeaker, the hinge 8 extends in the direction of
the minor axis of the ellipse. The clamping plate may consist of a
synthetic material or of tough presswood board.
At those edges or remote ends 15 of the clamping plate parts 11'
and 11" which face away from the hinge, hooks 17, 17' have been
provided whose openings face towards the end edges 19, 19' of the
loudspeaker aperture 7. The hooks or engaging means 17, 17' are
mounted on the side of clamping plate 11 which faces away from the
loudspeaker chassis 9 and can be slid over the edges 19, 19' of the
loudspeaker aperture 7. The axial distance between the ends 18 of
the hooks is slightly greater than the distance between the edges
19, 19' of the loudspeaker aperture.
On the pivoted clamping plate second part 11", a leafspring 21 has
been fitted on the side facing the loudspeaker chassis 9. A spring
arm or securing means 23 of the leafspring 21 is capable of
snapping over the flange 25 of the loudspeaker chassis 9 when
clamping plate 11 is depressed.
To mount the loudspeaker 9 the hook 17 is positioned on the edge
19. In a similar way the hook 17' is placed on the edge 19 in the
pivoted condition or V-shaped and first orientation of the clamping
plate. Subsequently, the loudspeaker is pressed towards the baffle
3 in the direction of an arrow 27. Thus the clamping plate parts 11
and 11' are made to extend in one plane to a second, generally flat
orientation and the hooks 17 and 17' engage behind the loudspeaker
baffle 3. Simultaneouosly, the spring arm 23 snaps over the chassis
flange 25. Thus the loudspeaker is secured to loudspeaker baffle 3
and can only be removed from said baffle when the spring arm 23 is
withdrawn.
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