Loudspeaker having an interlocking magnet structure

• US 8,315,421 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mihelich, Ryan J., Semmler, Jason M., Steere, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/831,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20100310111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 381/396, 381/397, 381/400, 381/412, 381/414, 381/420, 381/421, 335/231
• US Class Current: 381/412
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 Magnetic circuit

Abstract

A magnet structure for use with a loudspeaker has an interlocking mechanism. The magnet structure can include a magnet, a shell pot and at least one core cap. The shell pot can contain the magnet in its hollow interior. The magnet can be a single magnet or double magnets. The core cap has two surfaces. For a single magnet, one surface of the core cap faces the magnet. For double magnets, the core cap can be vertically disposed between the two magnets. The magnet, the core cap and the shell pot can interlock with one another such that a position of the magnet relative to the core cap and the shell pot can be rigidly preserved. The magnet can be configured to be, for example, overlapped, inserted, staked and/or engaged with at least one of the shell pot or the core cap.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker having a magnet structure, comprising:

a first magnet, a second magnet, a core cap disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet, and a shell pot configured to contain at least a portion of the first magnet, each of the first magnet, the second magnet, the core cap, and the shell pot having an aperture extending axially therethrough, where each of the apertures is axially aligned with one another; and

a fastener comprising an injection moldable material molded in the aligned apertures, the fastener having a first end, a second end, and a body member extending therebetween, the body member configured to extend at least partially through said aligned apertures, the first end and the second end of the fastener being positioned to capture the first magnet, the second magnet, the core cap, and the shell pot into a secure relative position.

2. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the fastener first end is sized greater than the shell pot aperture.

3. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the fastener second end is sized greater than the second magnet aperture.

4. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the first and second ends of the fastener are configured to provide axial pressure to the first magnet, the second magnet, the core cap, and the shell pot in order to further secure the relative position.

5. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the injection moldable material is a plastic material.

6. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the injection moldable material is a nonmagnetic material.

7. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the body member of the fastener has a cylindrical shape.

8. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the body member of the fastener is configured to engage a substantial portion of at least the first magnet, the second magnet, and the core cap that defines said aligned aperture.

9. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the fastener includes a venting passageway extending axially therethrough.

10. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the first end of the fastener is in engagement with the shell pot.

11. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the body member fills the axially aligned apertures so that fastener engages a substantial portion of the first magnet, the second magnet and the core cap.

12. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the fastener is configured to inhibit relative axial movement of each of the first magnet, the second magnet, the core cap, and the shell pot.

13. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the fastener is configured to inhibit relative radial movement of each of the first magnet, the second magnet and the core cap.

14. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 1, where the shell pot is configured to contain at least one of the first magnet and the core cap.

15. A loudspeaker having a magnet structure, comprising:

a first structure portion, a second structure portion, and a shell pot configured to contain at least a portion of the first structure portion, each of the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot having an aperture extending axially therethrough, where the apertures are axially aligned with one another;

a non magnetic material molded into a fastener in the apertures and extending at least partially through each aperture of the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot, the fastener having a first head member and a second head member being sized and positioned to capture the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot into a secure relative position.

16. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 15, where at least a portion of each of the first head member and the second head member is sized greater than the axial opening of said axial assembly.

17. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 15, where the nonmagnetic material is an injection moldable plastic.

18. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 15, where the fastener is configured to inhibit relative axial and radial movement of each of the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot.

19. A loudspeaker having a magnet structure, comprising:

an axial assembly of components, the components comprising a first structure portion, a second structure portion, and a shell pot configured to contain at least a portion of the first structure portion, each of the axial assembly components having an aperture extending axially therethrough, the apertures being axially aligned with one another to define an axial opening of the axial assembly; and

a non magnetic fastener having a first head member, a second head member, and a body member extending between the first and second head members, the fastener being molded into the axial opening of the axial assembly so that the body member extends at least partially through said axial opening, and the first and second head members are disposed adjacent a first end and a second end of the axial opening, respectively, the first and second head members being sized greater than the respective first and second ends of the axial opening in order to capture the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot into a secure relative position.

20. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the first structure portion comprises a magnet.

21. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 20, where the second structure portion comprises a core cap.

22. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 21, further comprising a second magnet, where the second structure portion is disposed between the second magnet and the first structure portion.

23. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the fastener comprises a nonmagnetic plastic material.

24. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the fastener comprises a material capable of injection molding.

25. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the fastener including the first and second head members and the body member is a monolithic structure.

26. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the axial assembly forms a part of a fastener mold.

27. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the fastener is configured to inhibit relative axial movement of the axial assembly components.

28. The loudspeaker magnet structure of claim 19, where the fastener is configured to inhibit relative radial movement of the axial assembly components.

29. A method for manufacturing a magnet structure for use with a loudspeaker, comprising:

providing a first structure portion, a second structure portion, and a shell pot configured to contain at least a portion of the first structure portion, each having an aperture extending axially therethrough;

arranging the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot to form an axial assembly so that all of the apertures are in axial alignment with one another;

placing the axial assembly in an injection molding machine; and

injecting material with the injection molding machine into the axially aligned apertures of the axial assembly to form a fastener configured to capture the first structure portion, the second structure portion, and the shell pot into a secure relative position.

30. The method of claim 29, where in the providing step the first structure portion comprises a magnet and the second structure portion comprises a core cap.

31. The method of claim 30, where the providing step further comprises providing a second magnet, where the second structure portion is disposed between the second magnet and the first structure portion.

32. The method of claim 29, where in the injecting material step, the fastener is formed having a first head member, a second head member, and a body member extending therebetween, the first and second head members being sized greater than the size of the axially aligned apertures.

33. The method of claim 32, where in the injecting material step, the fastener is monolithically formed.