Speaker enclosure

• US 20030063766A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barry Goldslager, Philip A. Goldslager, Philip W. Goldslager
• Original Assignee: Barry Goldslager, Philip A. Goldslager, Philip W. Goldslager
• Inventors: Goldslager, Barry, Goldslager, Philip A., Goldslager, Philip W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,763,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2888 for loudspeaker transducers

Abstract

An enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker includes a driver support, a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of the driver support, and an end piece disposed adjacent a rearward most cavity forming layer. The driver support includes a front and rear and is adapted to support a driver. Each cavity forming layer includes an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of the outer peripheral edge. The void defines an inner circumferential edge. The cavity forming layers may be removably joined such that the voids and the end piece cooperate to form a cavity rearward of the driver support. The cavity forming layers cooperate to advantageously modify the sound performance of the speaker, while providing a high degree of adjustability to the speaker'"'"'s application environment. Methods of providing the enclosure assembly are also included.

Claims

1. An enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker comprising:

a driver support having a front and a rear and adapted to support a driver;

a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of said driver support;

an end piece disposed adjacent a rearward most cavity forming layer;

each said cavity forming layer comprising an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of said outer peripheral edge, wherein said void is defined by an inner circumferential edge; and

a plurality of said cavity forming layers being removably joined such that said voids and said end piece cooperate to form a single cavity rearward of said driver support, said cavity having an inner circumferential surface defined by the inner circumferential edges of said cavity forming layers;

wherein individual cavity forming layers can be added or removed to change a volume of said cavity.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cavity forming layers are substantially planar and said inner circumferential edges of said voids cooperate to form a generally cylindrical cavity having an axis extending transversely to the plane of said layers.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said void in each said cavity forming layer has substantially the same area and shape.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having an area that is different from an area of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having a shape that is different from a shape of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cavity forming layers are substantially planar and said inner circumferential edges of said voids cooperate to form a cavity having a longitudinal axis extending transversely to the plane of said layers, and wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having an area that is different from an area of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said inner circumferential edges are shaped to form a contoured inner circumferential surface.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said circumferential edges are shaped and cooperate to form a saw-tooth pattern on at least a portion of said inner circumferential surface.

9. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said circumferential edges include planar surfaces, wherein a plurality of said surfaces are angled with respect to the plane of said cavity forming layers.

10. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said circumferential edges comprises multiple planar surfaces, wherein at least one surface is angled with respect to the plane of said cavity forming layers.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having an area that is different from an area of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

12. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said circumferential edges comprises a curved surface.

13. The assembly according to claim 12 wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having an area that is different from an area of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

14. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of said circumferential edges are shaped and cooperate to form a generally curved pattern on at least a portion of said contoured inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of said curved pattern is defined by a hyperbolic equation along a direction of said longitudinal axis rearward of said driver support.

15. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of said circumferential edges are shaped and cooperate to form a generally curved pattern on at least a portion of said contoured inner circumferential surface, wherein at least a portion of said curved pattern is defined by an exponential equation along a direction of said longitudinal axis rearward of driver.

16. An enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker comprising:

a driver support having a front and a rear and adapted to support a driver;

a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of said driver support; and

an end piece disposed adjacent a rearward most cavity forming layer, wherein said end piece terminates the cavity;

each said cavity forming layer comprising an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of said outer peripheral edge, wherein said void is defined by an inner circumferential edge;

said cavity forming layers and said end piece cooperate to form at least one cavity rearward of said driver support, said at least one cavity having an inner circumferential surface defined by the inner circumferential edges of said cavity forming layers;

wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having an area that is different from an area of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

17. The enclosure assembly of claim 16 wherein a plurality of said cavity forming layers are removably joined such that said voids and said end piece cooperate to form a single cavity rearward of said driver support, whereby individual cavity forming layers can be added or removed to change a volume of said cavity.

18. An enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker comprising:

a driver support having a front and a rear and adapted to support a driver;

a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of said driver support; and

an end piece disposed adjacent a rearward most cavity forming layer, wherein said end piece terminates the cavity;

each said cavity forming layer comprising an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of said outer peripheral edge, wherein said void is defined by an inner circumferential edge;

said cavity forming layers and said end piece cooperate to form at least one cavity rearward of said driver support, said at least one cavity having an inner circumferential surface defined by the inner circumferential edges of said cavity forming layers;

wherein at least one said cavity forming layer has a void having a shape that is different from a shape of a void of at least one other cavity forming layer.

19. A method of providing an enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker, specifically modified for an application environment, comprising the steps of:

a) measuring a set of acoustical parameters, said set defining said application environment;

b) assembling an enclosure assembly comprising a driver support having a front and a rear and adapted to support a driver;

a plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of said driver support;

wherein each said cavity forming layer comprises an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of said outer peripheral edge, wherein said void is defined by an inner circumferential edge, and said cavity forming layers being removably joined such that said voids cooperate to form at least one cavity rearward of said driver support, said at least one cavity having an inner circumferential surface defined by the inner circumferential edges of said cavity forming layers; and

whereby individual cavity forming layers can be added or removed to change a volume of said least one cavity; and

c) modifying an actual sound response produced within said application environment by at least one of the following steps;

i) adding at least one removably joined cavity forming layer;

ii) deleting at least one removably joined cavity forming layer;

iii) modifying an inner circumferential edge of at least one cavity forming layer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the steps are performed on-site within said application environment.

21. A method of providing an enclosure assembly for use in an audio speaker, specifically modified for an application environment, comprising the steps of:

a) measuring a set of acoustical parameters, said set defining said application environment;

b) forming a plurality of cavity forming layers, wherein each said cavity forming layer comprises an outer peripheral edge and a void disposed inward of said outer peripheral edge, wherein said void is defined by an inner circumferential edge; and

c) assembling an enclosure assembly comprising a driver support having a front and a rear and adapted to support a driver; and

said plurality of cavity forming layers disposed rearward of said driver support;

wherein said voids cooperate to form at least one cavity rearward of said driver support, said at least one cavity having an inner circumferential surface defined by the inner circumferential edges of said cavity forming layers.