Audio enclosure assembly mounting system and method

• US 5,881,989 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Riccomini, Roy J., O'Brien, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Long Dinh
• Application Number:
  US08/812,933
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 248/634, 248/635, 248/222.12, 248/917, 248/638, 248/349.1, 248/922, 403/329, 403/326, 403/405.1, 403/407.1, 403/163, 403/71, 403/164, 24/297, 24/453, 24/625, 411/41, 411/45, 411/55
• US Class Current: 248/634
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/642 Disposition of sound reproducers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/922 Angular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32967 Attached to or integral with one member

Abstract

A vibration-isolating system for mounting a cathode ray tube monitor to an enclosed audio base includes an annular vibration-isolating grommet having an axial bore; a snap cap including an annular portion having a surface for supporting the grommet and an axial aperture, at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to distal ends, and a nub extending radially from the distal end of each leg; and an elongated member configured to fit about the legs, through the axial aperture and through the axial bore, and to attach to a cathode ray tube housing.

Claims

1. A snap cap comprising:

an annular portion having a surface for supporting a grommet;

an annular wall formed about a periphery of the surface for laterally limiting the grommet;

an elongated extension extending from the annular portion;

an axial aperture formed through the annular portion and the elongated extension for receiving a cathode ray tube housing attaching mechanism and a shoulder formed within the axial aperture for securing the cathode ray tube housing attaching mechanism within the axial aperture.

2. The snap cap of claim 1 wherein the annular wall is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the surface.

3. The snap cap of claim 1 wherein the elongated extension includes at least two legs each having a nub extending radially from a distal end of the leg.

4. The snap cap of claim 3 wherein each nub includes a shoulder portion for snapping onto the base.

5. The snap cap of claim 1 wherein the elongated extension includes four legs.

6. The snap cap of claim 5 wherein the four legs are equally spaced apart.

7. The snap cap of claim 1 wherein the annular portion is substantially perpendicularly oriented relative to the elongated extension.

8. A snap cap comprising:

an annular portion having a surface for supporting a grommet and an axial aperture for receiving a cathode ray tube housing attaching mechanism through a distal end of the snap cap an annular wall formed about a periphery of the surface for laterally limiting the grommet;

at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to respective ends;

a shoulder formed on the legs within the axial aperture for securing the cathode ray tube housing attaching mechanism within the axial aperture; and

a nub extending radially from each end.

9. The snap cap of claim 8 wherein the annular portion surface is substantially perpendicularly oriented to the legs.

10. The snap cap of claim 8 wherein the at least two legs includes four legs.

11. The snap cap of claim 10 wherein the four legs are equally spaced apart.

12. The snap cap of claim 8 wherein each nub includes a shoulder portion for snapping onto the base.

13. The snap cap of claim 8 further comprising a wall around a periphery of the surface for laterally limiting the grommet.

14. A vibration-isolating mounting system comprising:

a base;

a snap cap coupled to the base, the snap cap including

an annular portion having a surface and an axial aperture;

at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to distal ends;

an annular grommet having an axial bore, the grommet positioned on the annular portion surface such that the grommet bore and the annular portion aperture are substantially aligned; and

a nub extending radially from the distal end of each leg;

a cathode ray tube housing; and

an elongated member configured to fit between the legs, through the axial aperture and through the axial bore, and to attach to the cathode ray tube housing.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least two legs includes four legs.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the four legs are equally spaced apart.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein each nub includes a shoulder portion for snapping onto the base.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the snap cap includes a wall around a periphery of the surface for laterally limiting the grommet.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the elongated member includes a screw having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the cathode ray tube housing includes an attaching bore for receiving only the threaded portion.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the unthreaded portion is sufficiently long so that, when attached to the cathode ray tube housing, the snap cap and grommet are not overcompressed.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein the grommet isolates vibrations including those caused by music and speech.

23. The system of claim 14 wherein each leg is configured to fit into a cylinder in a base.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the nub is configured to engage a ledge in the base.

25. A method for mounting a cathode ray tube housing having an attaching bore to a base having a cylinder which terminates in a ledge, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an annular grommet having an axial bore;

b) providing a snap cap including

an annular portion having a surface for supporting the grommet and an axial aperture;

at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to distal ends; and

a nub extending radially from the distal end of each leg;

c) positioning the annular grommet on the annular portion surface so that the grommet axial bore and the annular portion axial aperture are substantially aligned;

d) inserting an elongated member between the legs, through the aperture, through the axial bore and into the attaching bore;

e) attaching the elongated member to the cathode ray tube housing in the attaching bore; and

f) inserting the two legs into the cylinder until the nub extending from each leg engages the ledge.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least two legs includes four legs.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the four legs are equally spaced apart.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein each nub includes a shoulder portion for snapping onto the base.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the snap cap includes a wall around a periphery of the surface for laterally limiting the grommet.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the elongated member includes a screw having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the attaching bore receives only the threaded portion.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the unthreaded portion is sufficiently long so that, when attached to the cathode ray tube housing, the snap cap and grommet are not overcompressed.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the grommet isolates vibrations including those caused by music and speech.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein the nub includes a shoulder portion for engaging the ledge.