Surface mounted loudspeaker and bracket for the mounting thereof

• US 6,845,840 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Acoustics Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Boston Acoustics Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Haskell, Craig T., Cowan, Jeffrey N., Petronio, James, Chamness, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LOCKETT, KIMBERLY R
• Application Number:
  US09/925,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 181/148, 181/150, 181/151, 181/153, 181/155, 181/156, 248/220.1, 248/207
• US Class Current: 181/150
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/025 Corner supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A surface mounted loudspeaker is provided which, in conjunction with a mating brace which fits in a recessed form in the rear of the speaker enclosure, is mountable to a single wall in a variety of orientations, in corners with various orientations, and to a substantially horizontal surface in a variety of orientations with little if any additional hardware. In all orientations, the speaker provides good aesthetics, with the bracket being substantially invisible.

Claims

1. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a rear portion of said enclosure, wherein said recess is sized and shaped to receive the bracket directly, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener secure the enclosure to the bracket.

5. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said posts.

6. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two of said posts.

13. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 1 including a slot formed in said rear portion of the enclosure near at least one end of said enclosure, and a corner bracket having an extension which fits snugly in a said slot, said corner bracket, when said loudspeaker is corner mounted, filling the space between said rear surface and said corner.

14. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 13 wherein there is a said slot formed at each end of said enclosure and a corner bracket for each said slot.

15. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 13 wherein said corner bracket has a foot on one side thereof, said foot when facing the adjacent end of the enclosure facilitating the standing of the loudspeaker on said adjacent end.

2. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a rear portion of said enclosure, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket;

a grill covering said enclosure, and wherein each said fastener is a screw mating with corresponding internal threads in the corresponding post, each screw being mated to the corresponding post with said grill removed from said enclosure, whereby said screws are not visible when said grill is covering said enclosure.

3. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 2 wherein for said enclosure to be fitted to said bracket, said enclosure is moved to the bracket in a direction having component substantially perpendicular to each surface to which the bracket is mounted.

4. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 3 wherein said at least one post extends in substantially said direction.

7. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a a rear portion of said enclosure, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket; and

wherein said loudspeaker is adapted to fit in a corner, said rear portion of the enclosure having two truncated side walls at substantially a 90°

angle to each other with a flat back well therebetween, said recess being formed in said back wall and both said side walls.

8. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 7 wherein said bracket has two truncated side walls at substantially a 90°

angle to each other with a flat back wall therebetween, each wall of the bracket being sized to fit substantially flush in the portion of the recess formed in a corresponding wall of the enclosure.

9. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 8 wherein said features include at least one hole formed in each side wail of said bracket through which a suitable fastener may be passed to secure the bracket to each surface forming said corner.

10. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 8 wherein said loudspeaker is also adapted to be mounted to a flat surface, and wherein said features include at least two holes formed in the rear wall of said bracket through which a suitable fastener may be passed to secure the bracket to a flat surface.

11. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 8 wherein said loudspeaker is also adapted to be mounted to a flat surface, and wherein said features include an opening in the rear wall of said bracket which is sized to fit over a wall outlet plate and a pair of holes positioned relative to said opening so that screws for said plate can pass therethrough to secure the bracket to a flat surface in which said plate is mounted.

12. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a rear portion of said enclosure, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket;

a grill covering said enclosure, a hole in said grill, and a symbol-containing plate having a post extending from the rear thereof, said post being sized to fit snugly in said hole, whereby the orientation of said plate is adjustable to maintain a consistent orientation for said symbol regardless of loudspeaker orientation.

16. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a rear portion of said enclosure, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket;

wherein said bracket has an external web extending parallel to a long side of said enclosure, and including a brace attachable to said web to support said loudspeaker in a desired position when standing on a said long side.

17. A loudspeaker as claimed in claim 16 wherein said brace has a pair of inner fingers which extend on one side of said web and a pair of outer thumbs which extend on an opposite side of said web when said brace is attached to the web.

18. A universal surface mounted loudspeaker including:

an enclosure in which loudspeaker components are mounted; and

a bracket sized to fit substantially flush in a corresponding recess formed in a rear portion of said enclosure, said bracket having features to facilitate attachment of said bracket to at least one surface and having at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, each said post being adapted to coact with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket; and

wherein said loudspeaker is in the shape of a one-quarter cylinder.

19. A bracket for use with a surface mounted loudspeaker having an enclosure with a recess formed in a rear portion thereof, wherein said recess is sized and shaped to receive the bracket directly, said bracket being sized to fit substantially flush in said recess, and including at least one post positioned to extend through a corresponding hole in said rear portion of the enclosure, with a corresponding fastener to secure the enclosure to the bracket, and a plurality of features which facilitate attachment of said bracket to both two surfaces forming a corner and a single flat surface, attachment being possible to either.

20. A bracket as claimed in claim 19 wherein each said fastener is a screw mating with corresponding internal threads in the corresponding post.

21. A bracket as claimed in claim 19 wherein said bracket has two truncated side walls at substantially a 90°

angle to each other with a flat back wall therebetween, each wall of the bracket being sized to fit substantially flush in the portion of the recess formed in a corresponding wall of the enclosure.

22. A bracket as claimed in claim 21 wherein said features include at least one hole formed in each side wall of said bracket through which a suitable fastener may be passed to secure the bracket to each surface forming said corner.

23. A bracket as claimed in claim 21 wherein said features include at least two holes formed in the rear wall of said bracket through which a suitable fastener may be passed to secure the bracket to a flat surface.

24. A bracket as claimed in claim 21 wherein said features include an opening in the rear wall of said bracket which is sized to fit over a wall outlet plate and a pair of holes positioned relative to said opening so that screws for said plate can pass therethrough to secure the bracket to a flat surface in which said plate is mounted.