Flat bracket for wall mount speakers

• US 5,423,500 A
• Filed: 07/06/1993
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dana Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Struthers, Scott, Kindel, William J., Spencer, Geoffrey L., Huebscher, F. Hendrik, Maurer, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US08/088,155
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.1, 248/27.3, 248/906, 381/24, 381/205, 181/150, 181/199
• US Class Current: 248/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling

Abstract

A bracket for the in-wall mounting of speakers has a bracket frame member in which a plurality of apertures are formed for receiving fasteners to attach at least one speaker thereto and also has a plurality of wing members formed upon the bracket frame member for attaching the frame member to a wall. The wing members are formed having a thickness of less than 0.040 inch to facilitate attachment to the wall intermediate a wall frame and wallboard such that bowing of the wallboard is mitigated. The frame member and wing members are preferably integrally formed of plastic.

Claims

1. A bracket for the in-wall mounting of speakers, said bracket comprising:

(a) a bracket frame member having a plurality of apertures formed therein for receiving fasteners to attach at least one speaker thereto;

(b) a plurality of wing members formed upon said bracket frame member for attaching said bracket frame member to a wall; and

(c) wherein said bracket frame member and said wing members are formed having a thickness of less than 0.040 inch to facilitate attachment to the wall intermediate a wall frame member and wallboard such that bowing of the wallboard is mitigated.

2. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said wing members further comprise corrugations formed therein to increase the strength thereof.

3. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said bracket frame member and said wing members are formed of styrene.

4. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said frame member and said wing members are integrally formed.

5. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said frame member is generally rectangular in shape.

6. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said wing members further comprise apertures for receiving fasteners to attach the bracket to a wall frame.

7. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of wing members comprises two wing members.

8. The bracket as recited in claim 7 wherein said two wing members are attached to opposite sides of said frame members such that they are parallel to one another.

9. The bracket as recited in claim 7 wherein said two wing members are attached to said frame members such that they are perpendicular to one another.

10. The bracket as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of wing members comprises four wing members, adjacent wing members being formed perpendicular to one another.

11. A method for mounting speakers to a wall, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a bracket having a bracket frame member and a plurality of wing members to a wall frame, said bracket being formed of a sheet material and being less than 0.040 inch thick, said bracket frame member having an opening formed therein;

(b) applying wallboard over said bracket;

(c) forming an opening in said wallboard, the opening in said wallboard corresponding generally in configuration and position to the opening in the bracket frame member; and

(d) attaching at least one speaker to said bracket frame member.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step at forming an opening in said wallboard is performed prior to the step of attaching the bracket to the frame member.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the step at forming an opening in said wallboard is performed subsequent to the step of attaching the bracket to the frame member.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said sheet material is less than 0.020 inch thick.

15. A method for mounting speakers to a wall, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming an opening in wallboard applied over wall frame members, said opening being sized to receive the speakers;

(b) manipulating a bracket having a bracket frame member and a plurality of wing members, said bracket being formed of a sheet material and being less than 0.040 inch thick, through said opening into said wall;

(c) manipulating at least one wing of said bracket intermediate the wallboard and a wall frame member such that said bracket is captured therebetween; and

(d) attaching at least one speaker to said bracket frame member,

16. A template for the in-wall mounting of speakers, said template comprising:

(a) a template frame member;

(b) a plurality of wing members formed upon said template frame member for attaching said template frame member to a wall; and

(c) wherein said template frame member and said wing members are formed having a thickness of less than 0.040 inch to facilitate attachment to the wall intermediate a wall frame member and wallboard such that bowing of the wallboard is mitigated.

17. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said wing members further comprise corrugations formed therein to increase the strength thereof.

18. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said template frame member and said wing members are formed of styrene.

19. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said frame member and said wing members are integrally formed.

20. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said frame member is generally rectangular in shape.

21. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said wing members further comprise apertures for receiving fasteners to attach the template to a wall frame.

22. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said plurality of wing members comprises two wing members.

23. The template as recited in claim 22 wherein said two wing members are attached to opposite sides of said frame members such that they are parallel to one another.

24. The template as recited in claim 22 wherein said two wing members are attached to said frame members such that they are perpendicular to one another.

25. The template as recited in claim 16 wherein said plurality of wing members comprises four wing members, adjacent wing members being formed perpendicular to one another.

26. A method for mounting speakers to a wall, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a template having a template frame member and a plurality of wing members to a wall frame, said template being formed of a sheet material and being less than 0.040 inch thick, said template frame member having an opening formed therein;

(b) applying wallboard over said template;

(c) forming an opening in said wallboard, the opening in sad wallboard corresponding generally in configuration and position to the opening in the template frame member; and

(d) positioning at least one speaker within the opening in said wallboard, said speaker(s) being reviewed within the template frame member.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein the step at forming an opening in said wallboard is performed prior to the step of attaching the template to the frame member.

28. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein the step at forming an opening in said wallboard is performed subsequent to the step of attaching the template to the frame member.

29. The method as recited in claim 26 wherein said sheet material is less than 0.020 inch thick.

30. A method for mounting speakers to a wall, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming an opening in wallboard applied over wall frame members, said opening being sized to receive the speakers;

(b) manipulating a template having a template frame member and a plurality of wing members, said template being formed of a sheet material and being less than 0.040 inch thick, through said opening into said wall;

(c) manipulating at least one wing of said template intermediate the wallboard and a wall frame member such that said template is captured therebetween; and

(d) positioning at least one speaker within the template frame members.