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Spring-loaded dog assembly which enables a bezel of a speaker system and structure holding electric device to be mounted in ceilings and walls without having to use external retaining means

  • US 6,588,543 B1
  • Filed: 09/04/2001
  • Issued: 07/08/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A mounting bracket for mounting a speaker system to a wall or ceiling of a building structure, the mounting bracket comprising:

  • a. a generally rectangular shaped bezel having a front side, a rear side, a recess opening, a lower ledge surrounding the recess opening, and an upper ledge surrounding the lower ledge and the recess opening, the lower ledge having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therethrough;

    b. a plurality of spring-loaded dog assemblies, each having a hollow cylindrical dog tower integrally formed to a bottom surface of said lower ledge on said rear side of said bezel, the dog tower having a spiral slot opening on one side which enables a movable dog member to be placed therein and rotatable up or down within the dog tower for clamping to a material of the wall or ceiling, the dog tower further having a notch located on the spiral slot opening for securing the movable dog member in a pre-mounting condition;

    c. said movable dog member having a connecting section, a cylindrical dog post integrally formed at one end of the connecting section and movable within said dog tower, and a clamping dog leg integrally formed at the other end of the connecting section, where the cylindrical dog post and the clamping dog leg extend in opposite directions, the connecting section having a ridge which mates with said notch on said dog tower for securing said movable dog member in the pre-mounting condition;

    d. a coil spring inserted within said dog tower of said each spring-loaded assembly and located between a bottom of said dog tower and one end of said cylindrical dog post, where the coil spring is in a compressed condition in the pre-mounting condition and in an uncompressed condition in a mounting condition;

    e. a generally rectangular shaped fixture sized to fit within said recess opening of said bezel such that the fixture rests on said lower ledge and below said upper ledge, the fixture having a front side, a rear side and a plurality of spaced apart slotted keyholes extending therethrough; and

    f. a plurality of fixture screws, each fixture screw having one end inserted through said each aperture on said lower ledge of said bezel and threaded into an insert within said cylindrical dog post, the other end of said each fixture screw inserted into said each slotted keyhole on said fixture which provides an axial lock for retaining and securing said fixture to said bezel;

    g. whereby when an installer takes said bezel and puts said bezel in a hole in said wall or ceiling, said bezel fits flush with the surface of the wall or ceiling, the installer reaches inside said bezel and pushes said movable dog member of said each spring-loaded dog assembly past said notch on said dog tower, said coiled spring then forces said dog leg to spiral around said spiral slot opening and firmly and securely clamps the material of said wall or ceiling and spring motion forces said each fixture screw out of said bezel, where said each fixture screw is screwed to secure said fixture to said bezel.

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