GB2267638A

GB2267638A - Support for electromechanical equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2267638A
Application number: GB9306061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Robert Jones; Paul James Fearis
Original assignee: PRODUCT RESEARCH Ltd
Current assignee: PRODUCT RESEARCH Ltd
Priority date: 1992-04-24
Filing date: 1993-03-24
Publication date: 1993-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-24
Also published as: GB9208933D0; GB2267638B; GB9306061D0

Abstract

An assembly for the support of a piece of electromechanical equipment such as a loudspeaker comprises a rigid support member 10 with a conically shaped top 11 and a conically shaped bottom 12, a rigid support 16 and a compression spring 21, where by using three or more assemblies, the conically shaped bottom 12 of the rigid support 10 penetrates the floor 21 thus providing kinematic coupling with the base of the loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment 22. The support 16 keeps the rigid support member 10 vertical and the compression spring 21 accommodates variations in depth of any floor covering by separating upper surface 19 of the support 16 from the lower surface 15 of the conical top of rigid support member 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL EQUIPMENT This invention relates to a support for electromechanical equipment such as audio loudspeakers.

The performance of electromechanical equipment such as turntables and loudspeakers can be greatly improved by using highly rigid and stiff supports.

Existing supports consist of either spikes or cones fitted directly to the base of the loudspeaker cabinet, or a platform fitted with spikes or cones upon which the loudspeaker or other piece of equipment sits. Both alternatives aim to ensure good coupling between the loudspeaker and the floor or other surface.

It is generally agreed that the optimum support is obtained using a kinematic three point mounting to equally distribute the loads.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising a central rigid member with conically shaped top and bottom which is held in a vertical position by a support means. This support means may be either rigid or flexible by nature of its design or material and serves to prevent the central rigid member from falling over. Three or more such assemblies can be used to couple the loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment to the floor.

The rigid support member significantly reduces vibration of the cabinet whilst minimising energy transfer from the loudspeaker to the floor through maintaining only point contact.

The provision for the use of a compression spring with a rigid support means or alternatively a flexible support means, allows for a variety of depths of floor covering to be accommodated, ensuring at all times rigid coupling between the floor and the piece of equipment and simultaneously minimising vibration of the support means.

An alternative arrangement allows for three or more individual rigid members to be generally interconnected and hence mutually supported by a support means such as a planar platform. Four specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective an assembly comprising a rigid support member with conically shaped top and bottom supported by a rigid support and a compression spring; Figure 2 shows in section, a side view of the assembly shown in figure 1; Figure 3 shows in perspective an assembly comprising a rigid support member with conically shaped top and bottom supported by a flexible support of elastomeric material; Figure 4 shows in section, a side view of the assembly shown in figure 3; Figure 5 shows in perspective an assembly comprising an alternative design of rigid support member with conically shaped top and bottom supported only by a rigid support; Figure 6 shows in section, a side view of the assembly shown in figure 5; Figure 7 shows in perspective an assembly comprising three rigid support members with conically shaped top and bottom generally interconnected by a horizontal platform; and Figure 8 shows in side view the assembly shown in figure 7; Referring to figures 1 and 2, the assembly comprises a rigid support member 10 with a conically shaped top 11 and a conically shaped bottom 12, a rigid support 16 and a compression spring 21.

The rigid support 16 keeps the rigid support member 10 vertical by providing support with annular protrusion 17 against cylindrical section 13 of the rigid support member 10. The compression spring 21 separates upper surface 19 of the support 16 from the lower surface 15 of the conical top 11 of rigid support member 10. The spring 21 is located by annular protrusion 20 on support 16 and annular protrusion 14 on rigid support member 10. The compression spring 21 compresses as the lower surface 18 of the support 16 sits on the floor 21 allowing the conically shaped bottom 12 of the rigid support 10 to penetrate the floor 21, thus providing rigid coupling with the base of the loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment 22 which rests upon conical top 11 of the rigid support member 10.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, the assembly comprises a rigid support member 23 with a conically shaped top 24 and a conically shaped bottom 25 and a flexible support 28. The flexible support 28 keeps the rigid support member 23 vertical by providing support with annular protrusions 29 and 30 against cylindrical section 26 of the rigid support member 23. A ribbed moulded section 31 of flexible support 28 supports the lower surface 27 of the conical top 24 of rigid support member 23. The ribbed moulded section 31 compresses as the lower surface 32 of the flexible support 28 sits on the floor 21 allowing the conically shaped bottom 25 of the rigid support member 23 to penetrate the floor 21, thus providing rigid coupling with the base of the loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment 22 which rests upon conical top 24 of the rigid support member 23.

Referring to figures 5 and 6, the assembly comprises a rigid support member 33 with a conically shaped top 34 and a conically shaped bottom 35 and a rigid support 37. The rigid support 37 keeps the rigid support member 33 vertical by providing support with annular protrusion 38 against cylindrical section 36 of the rigid support member 33. The supporting protrusion 38 rises up the the cylindrical section 36 of the rigid support member 33 as the lower surface 39 of the support 37 sits on the floor 21 allowing the conically shaped bottom 35 of the rigid support 33 to penetrate the floor 21, thus providing rigid coupling with the base of the loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment 22 which rests upon conical top 34 of the rigid support member 33.

Referring to figures 7 and 8, three assembly comprises three rigid supports 40,41 and 42 located within holes 50, 51 and 52 respectively of horizontal platform 49. The conically shaped bottoms 46,47 and 48 of rigid supports 40,41 and 42 respectively rest on the floor 21 and provide rigid coupling between the floor 21 and the base of the loudspeaker 22 which is supported by the conically shaped tops 43, 44 and 45 of rigid supports 40,41 and 42 respectively. Rigid supports 40, 41 and 42 are mutually supported by the lower surface 56 of horizontal platform 49 resting upon the upper surfaces 53, 54 and 55 of the conically shaped bottoms 46,47 and 48 of rigid supports 40,41 and 42 respectively. The upper surfaces 53, 54 and 55 of the conically shaped bottoms 46, 47 and 48 of rigid supports 40,41 and 42 respectively may be secured to the lower surface 56 of horizontal platform 49 by adhesive or the like to provide coupling between the rigid supports 40, 41 and 42 and the horizontal platform 49.

Claims

1 An assembly for kinematically coupling a loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment to the floor or other rigid surface, comprising a vertically orientated rigid support member with conically shaped top and bottom, and a support means, where three or more such assemblies may be used to support said loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment.

2 An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a rigid support structure.

3 An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a support structure which maybe in part or totally flexible by virtue of material or design

4 An assembly for supporting a loudspeaker or other piece of electromechanical equipment comprising three or more assemblies as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support means are generally interconnected or formed in one component.

5 An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the support means comprises a planar platform.