Snap-in and lock baffle

• US 7,587,059 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doug Wright
• Original Assignee: Doug Wright
• Inventors: Wright, Doug S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elbin; Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US10/871,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20050045171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 381/87, 381/387, 381/386, 381/395, 381/433, 181/150, 181/148, 181/154, 181/171
• US Class Current: 381/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A baffle assembly fastening system and mounting frame assembly that can be installed and secured without the use of tools. A baffle assembly frame defining an opening to receive a fixture and having an exposed first surface. A fastener is rotationally coupled to the baffle frame. The fastener extends from the exposed first surface to secure the baffle assembly to a recessed mounting frame, wherein the fastener can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in less ring is coupled to the baffle assembly and has a plurality of aligning posts that serve to align the baffle assembly as it is inserted into a recessed mounting frame.

Claims

1. A baffle assembly for an audio transducer comprising:

a baffle frame defining an opening to receive a fixture, the baffle frame having an exposed first surface;

a rotatable circular retaining ring coupled to the baffle frame, the retaining ring having at least one rotation-limiting stop; and

a fastener rotationally coupled to the baffle frame, the fastener having a rotation-limiting arm to engage with the at least one rotation-limiting stop of the retaining ring, the fastener extending from the exposed first surface to secure the baffle assembly to a recessed mounting frame, wherein the fastener can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in less than one full turn, wherein the retaining ring remains rotatable even after the fastener is in the engaged position.

2. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the retaining ring has a plurality of aligning posts that serve to align the baffle assembly as it is inserted into a recessed mounting frame.

3. The baffle assembly of claim 2 wherein the retaining ring includes an angled sidewall along the circumference of the opening defined by the baffle frame.

4. The baffle assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

an inner mounting assembly to couple to a fixture, the inner mounting assembly having an angled sidewall to slide against the angled sidewall of the retaining ring and provide a desired angle for the fixture.

5. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a tensioning pin, a knob coupled to a first end of the tensioning pin on the exposed first surface, a retaining spring along the tensioning pin and adapted keep the knob coupled to the tensioning pin, and a securing foot coupled to a second end of the tensioning pin wherein the securing foot is adapted to rotate.

6. The baffle assembly of claim 5 wherein rotating the knob causes the tensioning pin and securing foot to rotate and engage one or more spring fingers in the recessed mounting frame to secure the baffle assembly to the recessed mounting frame.

7. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the baffle frame includes at least one passage though which a fastener extends from the exposed first surface to an opposite end, the passage including a tensioning ramp edge along the circumference of the passage, a knob on the fastener rotates on the tensioning ramp edge to secure the baffle assembly.

8. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in approximately one half turn.

9. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a visible finger actuator, the finger actuator to align with a rib on the exposed first surface when the fastener is in the engaged position.

10. The baffle assembly of claim 1 wherein the baffle assembly remains free to rotate three hundred and sixty degrees even when the fastener secures the baffle assembly to the recessed mounting frame.

11. A frame assembly for an audio transducer comprising:

a framing means defining an opening to receive a recessed fixture, the framing means having an exposed first surface and a passage extending from the exposed first surface to an opposite end;

a rotatable circular retaining means coupled to the framing means, the retaining means having at least one rotation-limiting stop; and

a fastening means extending though the passage and rotationally coupled to the framing means, the fastening means having a rotation-limiting arm to engage with the at least one rotation-limiting stop of the retaining means, the fastening means extending from the exposed first surface for securing the framing means to a recessed mounting means, wherein the fastening means can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in less than one full turn, wherein the retaining means remains rotatable even after the fastening means is in the engaged position.

12. The frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the fastening means can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in approximately one half turn.

13. The frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the passage includes a tensioning ramp edge along the circumference of the passage, the fastening means rotates on the tensioning ramp edge to secure the frame assembly to the recessed mounting means.

14. The frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the fastening means includes a visible aligning means, the visible aligning means for aligning with a marker on the exposed first surface of a baffle frame when the fastening means is in the engaged position.

15. The frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the framing means remains free to rotate three hundred and sixty degrees even when the fastening means secures the framing means to the recessed mounting means.

16. A fastener for an audio transducer comprising:

a shaft;

a knob coupled to a first end of the shaft, the knob having a visible finger actuator, the finger actuator to align with an aligning marker to indicate an engaged position;

a retaining spring along the shaft and adapted to keep the knob coupled to the shaft;

a securing foot coupled to a second end of the shaft, wherein manually rotating the knob from a disengaged position to an engaged position also rotates the securing foot and the fastener can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in less than one full turn and wherein the securing foot is adapted to rotate, the retaining spring located between the knob and the securing foot; and

a rotation limiting arm coupled to the shaft and independent of the securing foot, the rotation limiting arm located between the knob and the securing foot.

17. The fastener of claim 16 wherein the fastener can be manually rotated from a disengaged position to an engaged position in approximately one half turn.

18. An audio transducer mounting device comprising:

a baffle frame defining an opening to receive an audio transducer, the baffle frame having an exposed first surface, the baffle frame including at least one passage from the exposed first surface to an opposite end, the passage including a tensioning ramp edge along the circumference of the passage;

a rotatable circular retaining ring coupled to the baffle frame, the retaining ring having a plurality of aligning posts that serve to align the baffle assembly as it is inserted into a recessed mounting frame, the retaining ring including an angled sidewall along the circumference of the opening defined by the baffle frame;

an inner mounting assembly to mount the audio transducer, the inner mounting assembly having an angled sidewall to slide against the angled sidewall of the retaining ring and provide a desired angle for the audio transducer; and

a fastener including a tensioning pin, a knob coupled to a first end of the tensioning pin on the exposed first surface, a retaining spring along the tensioning pin and adapted keep the knob coupled to the tensioning pin, and a securing foot coupled to a second end of the tensioning pin, the fastener rotationally coupled to the baffle frame and extending from the exposed first surface to secure the baffle assembly to a recessed mounting frame, wherein manually rotating the fastener knob causes the securing foot to rotate and engage one or more spring fingers in the recessed mounting frame to secure the baffle assembly to the recessed mounting frame, wherein the retaining ring remains rotatable even after the fastener is in the engaged position.