GB2431542A

GB2431542A - Anchor structure for a fire-proof steel frame of a ceiling speaker

Info

Publication number: GB2431542A
Application number: GB0521162A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hung-Jung Hsu
Original assignee: CHIEN WEI LIAO
Current assignee: CHIEN WEI LIAO
Priority date: 2005-10-18
Filing date: 2005-10-18
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-18
Also published as: GB0521162D0; GB2431542B

Abstract

An anchor structure for a fire-proof steel frame of a ceiling speaker aims to anchor the fire-proof steel frame on a ceiling 1 . The fire-proof steel frame has a case 10 to hold a speaker. The anchor structure includes a seat 20 coupled with the case 10 . The case 10 and seat 20 have respectively a retaining member 11 and a first slot 21 that are corresponding to and engageable with each other. The seat and case are coupled with a thrusting member 12. The seat 20 is pivotally coupled with a flap 30 . The flap 30 and the seat 20 are interposed by a pressing member 22 . The flap 30 is pushed by the pressing member 22 to form an extending angle in normal conditions, and is depressible to form a closing angle. Thereby the fire-proof steel frame can be installed easily and securely on the ceiling to seal the speaker inside and provide a desired fire-proof effect.

Description

ANCHOR STRUCTURE FOR A FiRE-PROOF STEEL FRAME OFA CEILiNG SPEAKER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an anchor structure for a steel frame and particularly to an anchor structure for a fire- proof steel frame of a ceiling speaker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet sound amplifying requirement for listening music or broadcasting purpose, nowadays the speakers are installed on a wide variety of locations. Asides from generating audio effect, with the advance of technologies, installation and anchoring of the speaker become issues that require constant improvement in the industry.

The techniques for installing and anchoring the speaker steel frame are known in the art. For instance, R.O.C. patent publication No. 81209938 entitled "Fast installing anchor structure for speakers" mainly has a flange, ribs and insertion troughs on the speaker periphery to be inserted and anchored by a latch diagonal plate formed on an inner arm and a hook type latch elastic reed formed on an outer wall. As the flange, ribs and insertion troughs are formed on the speaker periphery, fabrication process is complex and the cost is higher. It is not well accepted on the market.

R.O.C. patent publication No. 496628 entitled "Improved speaker anchoring structure" discloses a speaker anchoring structure that has an anchor seat on a speaker case. The anchor seat has two ends each has a two-piece latch hook which includes a first latch member and a second latch member that are crossed and latched. They are movably surrounding a transverse bar on a upper end of the anchor seat. During installation of the speaker, the first latch member passes through an aperture on the ceiling; the speaker is moved upwards to make the second latch member to brace on the aperture so that the first and second latch members allow the speaker to be moved downwards for a selected distance. And the first and second latch members can be coupled to anchor the speaker. As the two-piece latch hook is formed by bending a metal wire, it tends to lose elasticity after being used for a period of time. Moreover, the metal wire cannot securely hold the speaker on the ceiling. Operation also is tedious.

Other conventional fire-proof anchor structures for speaker steel frame generally include the following types: FIG. 1 PRIOR ART shows a speaker steel frame lOa which has a plurality of fastening holes 2 to receive screws 6 to fasten to a ceiling 1. As the ceiling I is located at an elevated location, to fasten the speaker steel frame lOa through the screws 6 to the ceiling 1 is difficult. To remove the speaker steel frame lOa for replacement or repairs also is troublesome. Fastening the screws 6 to the ceiling 1 also easily damages the ceiling structure. Moreover, the screws 6 alone cannot firmly hold the speaker steel frame lOa on the ceiling 1. Such an anchoring structure still has room for improvement.

FIG. 2 PRIOR ART shows that a speaker steel frame lOb also has fastening holes 2 to be fastened to the ceiling 1. It is largely like the one previously discussed (Referring to FIG. 1 PRIOR ART). However, the speaker frame lOb is fastened to a roof 3 through a rope 4 in advance. It is even more difficult to

install and remove than the one (FIG. 1 PRIOR ART)

mentioned above. The rope 4 also does not provide anchoring function.

FIG. 3 PRIOR ART illustrates yet another anchor structure for a speaker steel frame that has a bracket 5 mounted onto an inner side of the ceiling I in advance. The speaker steel frame lOc is fastened to the bracket 5 through a nut 7 and a screw 6.

But during fastening the speaker steel frame 1 Oc to the bracket 5, the bracket 5 is easily hit by people's hand and dislocated, or even tumbled. Operation is troublesome. Moreover, the bracket 5 is not properly anchored. After the speaker steel frame lOc is installed, the bracket 5 tends to shake when the speaker (not shown in the drawing) is used and vibrates. This affects sound quality and anchoring effect of the speaker.

FIG. 4 PRIOR ART shows still another example in which the speaker steel frame lOd has a plurality of slots 9 on the surface that are coupled respectively with an anchor member 8 through a screw 6 and a nut 7. The anchor member 8 can be moved upwards and downwards or anchored on the surface of the speaker steel frame lOd along the slot 9 by adjusting the nut 7. During installation, first, adjust the nut 7 to slide the anchor member 8 on a upper edge of the slot 9 to that the speaker steel frame lOd and the anchor member 8 can pass through the ceiling 1; then lower the anchor member 8 to be in contact with the ceiling 1; fasten the nut 7 to mount the anchor member 8 onto the surface of the speaker steel frame lOd without sliding; then the speaker steel frame hOd can be anchored on the ceiling I. Flowever, the anchor member cannot be firmly rested on the ceiling. As a result, the speaker steel frame lOd also cannot be securely mounted onto the ceiling 1. Installation also is tedious. All the aforesaid conventional anchor structures for speakers still have room for improvement. To provide an anchor structure that can firmly hold a speaker steel frame on the ceiling is an issue pending to be resolved in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid disadvantages. The invention provides an anchor structure that can easily and securely anchor a fire-proof steel frame of a speaker on a ceiling. To achieve the foregoing object, the anchor structure of the invention includes a seat to be fastened to a case of the fire-proof steel frame. A retaining member and a slot for holding the retaining member are provided respectively on the case and the seat that correspond to each other. The seat and the case are coupled with a thrusting member. The seat is pivotally coupled with a flap.

The flap and the seat are interposed by a pressing member.

The flap is pushed by the pressing member to form an extending angle in normal conditions. The flap is depressible to compress the pressing member to form a closing angle. The aforesaid structure can seal a speaker inside and provide a desired fire-proof effect. Installation is simpler and anchoring is more secured.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I PRIOR ART is a sectional view of a conventional technique;

FIG. 2 PRIOR ART is a sectional view of another

conventional technique; FIG. 3 PRIOR ART is a sectional view of yet another conventional technique; FIG. 4 PRIOR ART is a sectional view of still another conventional technique; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the present invention partially assembled; FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the present invention; and FIGS. 8 through 8C are schematic views of the present invention in operating conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Please referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the anchor structure for a fireproof steel frame of a ceiling speaker according to the invention aims to confine a fire-proof steel frame of a speaker (not shown in the drawings) on a ceiling I. The fire- proof steel frame has a case 1 0. The anchor structure includes a seat 20 fastened to the case 10. The case 10 and the seat 20 have respectively a retaining member 11 and a first slot 21 that are corresponding to each other. The retaining member 11 is movable and held in the first slot 21. The case has a fastening hole 15 corresponding to the retaining member 11.

The seat 20 and the case 10 also are coupled by a thrusting member 12. The case 10 has a flange 13 on a lower side. The flange 13 has at least one aperture 131 to receive the thrusting member 12 to couple with the seat 20. The seat 20 has an anchor portion 23 with screw threads formed thereon corresponding to the thrusting member 12. A flap 30 is pivotally coupled with one side of the seat 20 through an axle 25. The flap 30 and the seat 20 are interposed by a pressing member 22 which is an elastic element to store an elastic force and a returning elastic force. The elastic element may be a spring (or an elastic reed). The flap 30 is pushed by the pressing member 22 to open at a selected extending angle in normal conditions. The extending angle of the flap 30 is greater than the width of the flange 13. The seat 20 further has a detent portion 24 on one end where the flap 30 is pivotally coupled to limit the extending angle of the flap 30. The flap can receive a force to compress the pressing member 20 to form a closing angle for installing the case 10 on the ceiling I (referring to FIG. 8A). The closing angle of the flap 30 is smaller than the width of the flange 13. The extending angle of the flap must allow the case 1 0 and the anchor structure to be installed on the ceiling 1. And the thrusting member 12 is moved to force the flap 30 to press the ceiling I to anchor the case 10 (referring to FIG. 8C). The flap 30 is coupled with a guiding member 32 to exert a force on the flap 30 to form the closing angle. The guiding member 32 may be a rope. The case 10 has a threading hole 14 corresponding to the guiding member 32. The flap 30 has an opening 3 1 corresponding to the anchor portion 23 so that the flap 30 can be moved to the closing angle without being hindered. The flap 30 further has a second slot 33 to allow the retaining member 11 to pass through to couple with the seat 20.

Referring to FIGS. 8 through 8C, when in use for mounting the anchor structure on the ceiling 1, first, depress the flap 30 towards the seat 20 to the closing angle smaller than the width of the flange 13; the pressing member 22 is compressed to store an elastic force, and the closing angle is not hindered by the anchor portion 23 due to the opening 3 1 of the flap 30 (referring to FIG. 8); push the case 10 to a selected position of the ceiling 1, with the case 10 and the seat 20 and the flap 30 passing through the ceiling I (referring to FIG. 8A); the flange 13 of the case 10 is in contact with the ceiling 1; release the force from the flap 30, the stored elastic force of the pressing member 22 is released to push the flap 30 so that the flap 30 returns to the extending angle greater than the width of the flange 13 (referring to FIG. 8B); finally adjust the thrusting member 12 to move the seat 20 through the first slot 21 towards the flange 13, and the flap 30 and the flange 13 are pressed securely on the ceiling I (referring to FIG. 8C). Thus the speaker is sealed securely inside to provide a fire-proof effect.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An anchor structure for a fire-proof steel frame of a ceiling

speaker to confine the fire-proof steel frame of the speaker on a ceiling, the fire-proof steel frame having a case, the anchor structure characterized by: a seat which is coupled with the case, the case and the seat having respectively a retaining member and a first slot that are corresponding to and engageable with each other, the case and the seat being coupled by a thrusting member; and a flap pivotally coupled on one side of the seat, the flap and the seat being interposed by a pressing member, the flap being pushed by the pressing member to form an extending angle, and depressible to compress the pressing member to form a closing angle to allow the case to be installed on the ceiling, the extending angle allowing the case and the anchor structure to be mounted onto the ceiling and the thrusting member being movable to press the flap on the ceiling to confine the case on a desired position.
2. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case has a flange on a lower side that has at least one aperture to receive the thrusting member to couple with the seat.
3. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closing angle of the flap is smaller than the width of the flange.
4. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the extending angle of the flap is greater than the width of the flange.
5. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat has an anchor portion corresponding to the thrusting member that has screw threads.
6. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flap has an opening corresponding to the anchor portion.
7. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case has a flat surface to couple with the seat.
8. An anchor structure as claimed in claim I, wherein the seat has a detent portion on one end which is pivotally coupled with the flap to limit the extending angle of the flap.
9. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flap has a second slot to allow the retaining member to pass through to couple with the seat.
10. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flap is coupled with a guiding member to receive a force to move the flap to form the closing angle.
II. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the case has a threading hole corresponding to the guiding member (32).
12. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the guiding member is a rope. I0
13. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flap and the seat are pivotally coupled through an axle.
14. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing member is an elastic element to store an elastic force and a returning elastic force.
15. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic element is a spring.
16. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic element is an elastic reed.
17. An anchor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case has a fastening hole corresponding to the retaining member.
18. An anchor structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.