US2973824A

US2973824A - High fidelity speaker apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2973824A
Application number: US681254A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley M Pinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-30
Filing date: 1957-08-30
Publication date: 1961-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-07

Description

March 7, 1961 s. M. PlNsKl HIGH FIDELITY SPEAKER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1957 March 7, 1961 s. M. PlNsKl 2,973,824

HIGH FIDELITY SPEAKER APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent() HIGH FIDELITY SPEAKER APPARATUS Stanley M. Pinski, 8056 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Aug. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 681,254

7 Claims. (Cl. 181-31) This invention relates to acoustical devices and more specifically to a novel high fidelity sound reproducing diffusing and blending apparatus. v

A general object of the invention is to devise an efficient resonating speaker apparatus kof novel construction which is multidirectional and which incorporates a blending chamber to produce a harmonious full tonal effect.

A further object of the invention is to devise a speaker apparatus which includes strategically located reflectors arranged to amplify and modulate sounds emitted from speakers to obtain an exceptionally high fidelity output.

A more specific object is to provide a speaker unit having a support which resiliently mounts an amplifying resonator box of unique construction suspended in a blending chamber defined by a plurality of baflies for redirecting the sound in a plurality of directions.

A still further object is to provide a nove-l resilient suspension for the resonator unit which completely isolates the unit from its support to minimize interference and distortion of the reproduction.

A different object is to devise a resonator which is proportioned to superimpose harmonic secondary overtones and which includes a relief valve for modulating the bass tones to entirely eliminate distortion or secondary vibrations in the lower or bass notes.

The. invention comprehends a speaker assembly which features a drum-like vertically elongated enclosure having a skeletal framework provided with peripheral cir cumferentially spaced foraminous sound pervious baflle elements in the form of sheets of foraminous, preferably woven, fabric material which define vertically elongated passages therebetween, the passages as well as the baffle sheets being covered by a loose textured, primarily decorative material which cumulatively with the baille sheets serves to reflect sound into the blending chamber defined by the baffle sheets, but which is not particularly restrictiveto the passage of sounds` therethrough Vat the beforementioned spaces ,between the baffle sheets. r

These and other objects of the invention will 'becom more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken essentially on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Describing the invention in detail and having particular reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a high fidelity sound reproducing and transmitting apparatus generally indicated 2 which simulates an octagonal shaped table or skeletal support having a top 3, legs 4 depending from and connected to alternate corners 5 and dependent struts 6 connected to the intervening corners 7 and with said legs defining sound emitting spaces 8 therebetween.

These spaces 8 are substantially covered by sheets of cloth 9 commonly termed stiff in the trade and are woven to a relatively high density, the sheets being suitably secured `at their upper edges 9 to the respective peripheral portions 10 of the top 3 and at their lower edges 11 to the respective octagonal edges of a bottom shelf 12 which is connected at respective corners to the lower ends of the struts and lower portions of the legs.

The sheets 9 are foraminous and present vertical lateral edges 12 which are circumferentially spaced about 1A" from the adjacent leg or strut and define unrestricted sound passages 13, elongated the full length of the sheets.

The sheets 9 having density and being fabric serve as baflles and modulating means and collectively define a blending chamber 15 within which is resiliently suspended a resonator generally indicated 16.

The resonator 16 comprises a box-like cubicle structure 16 preferably made from plywood and comprising top and bottom sides 17 and 18 and

vertical sides

19, 20, 21 and 22. The structure 16 is resiliently suspended from its four corners 23 by upright tension springs 24 which are mounted upon the underside 25 of the top. The bottom of the structure 16 is supported at its corners 26 by a plurality of preferably variable deflection conical springs 27 which at their upper ends seat as at 28 against the underside 29 of the bottom panel 18 and at their base ends 30 seat on the top side 31 of shelf 12. Thus the box is entirely isolated from the supporting framework. The box is preferably proportioned as follows:

The top, bottom and front panels are preferably 2%" plywood and the remaining three side panels are 1A" plywood. The top speaker is preferably 4" in diameter and the front speaker 9 in diameter. The top speaker is centered on its panel and the front speaker is 61/2" below fthe top. The box is 1l" x ll x 1S". The slot 43 is 1/2 from the back wall 19 and 11/16 from the bottom edge of the bottom wall portion 42 (Figure 3). The top and front panels in effect form `a horn with the adjacent side panels. v

The top 17 is provided with a central opening 32 through which communicates a tweeter or high frequency speaker 32 which extends on its back side within the resonator box interior 33. The top 17 of the lresonator is spaced approximatelyl below the underside or baille means or surface 25 of the table or support top 3 which serves as a reflector and deilects the high frequency sounds downwardly about the resonator into the chamber 15 with equal intensity about the enltire circumferential extent thereof.

The resonator box is provided in its vertical side 21 with an opening 35 through which communicates a woofer or normal range speaker 36 which is supported from the panel 21 and extends into the interior 33 of the resonator. Thus it will be seen that the two speakers are disposed at adjacent sides of the upper interior corner 37 of the resonator box so that the sounds are broadcast downwardly and toward the diagonally opposite interior corner 38 whe-reat there is provided `a low frequency pressure relief valve 39.

The valve 39 comprises a slot 40 of a depth of approximately 1A, in the lower margin of the side wall 19 and a groove 41 in the contigous edge 42 of the bottom wall or panel 18 of the resonator to provide an escape passage generally indicated 43 from the interior 33 of the box into the blending chamber 15. The passage 43 is normally closed by a flat flap valve member 44 made preferably of foraminous material such as cloth and which is suitably connected in any conventional way along its upper margin 45 to the outer side 46 of the wall or panel 19 of the resonator, the flap extending the full length and depth of passage 43 and along its lower portion 47 overlapping the adjacent edge 42 of the bottom panel 18 of the resonator. Thus when heavy bass notes sound in the box 16,

the flap 44 pendulates to allow the escape of air from and l'into the interior 33 in the form of a breathing action.

The leg 4 opposite the speaker 36 supports a reilector 50 which is in the form of a truncated cone disposed -in axial opposition to the cones of the speaker '36 Vand spaced therefrom, the reflector 50 having a base 52 xed as Aby a screw 53 to the adjacent leg 4. 'and-a peripheral conical portion 54 which diverges toward the speaker 36, 'the outer margin of the cone havinf7 a peripheral stilening flange 55 thereabout so as to rigidity Vthe cone .and prevent unwarranted vibration, the rellector being preferably about the diameter of the speaker 36.

The entire support is covered by a layer of dress material 57 which is very loosely woven fabric, the material '57 extending about the struts and legs of the support from the top portions to the edges of the shelf 12 and con nected thereto in any conventional manner. This material adds another layer over material 9 and although extremely loose, nevertheless adds to the density of the rellector panels v9V but is sound permeable `and to a minor extent .modulates the sounds issuing from the spaces 13.

- I have found that with the construction defined in the foregoing specification l obtain an extremely tine reproduction and by the provision of the breather valve the necessity of providing a heavy box construction for the resonator as normally required is entirely obviated.

It will be understood that l have chosen a preferred form of the invention for illustration and explanation, and that various other forms will become readily apparent from those skilled in the art which are covered in the appended claims.

The input wires (not shown) for the speakers may be passed loosely through the bottom wall of the resonator.

What is claimed is:

1. A speaker assembly comprising a skeletal framework including `a plurality of annularly arranged uprights, top and bottom panels connected to said uprights, a cubical resonator box resiliently `supported within the framework and having top and bottom walls respectively opposing and vertically spaced from said top and bottom panels, said box having vertical front,rear, and side Walls interconnecting said top and bottom walls, sheathings of woven material intermediate said uprights and extending between and connected to said top and bottom panels and having vertical lateral edges spaced from respective uprights and defining vertically elongated sound escape slots therewith, a second sheathing comprising a layer of loosely woven material covering said sheathings and said-elongated slots and delining a blending chamber therewith, said resonator box having a lower rear corner with a sound escape slot in said rear wall along the lower edge thereof, a flap of cloth material connected to said rear wall above the upper edge of the slot therein and covering said slot in the rear wall, a rst speaker mounted upon said top wall within the box `and communicating through an opening therein into said blending chamber and voicing against the said top panel, a second speaker mounted upon said front wall and voicing into said vblending chamber through an opening in said front wall,

'a bafe supported upon said framework in axial alignmen and sound retlecting relation to said second speaker.

2. A speaker cabinet comprising solid top and bottom members, a plurality of panels of material interconnecting the peripheral portions of said top and bottom members and collectively developing a sound chamber, said panels spaced laterally from each other and forming narrow sound passages therebetween open to said chamber, and a loud speaker opposing batlic mounted within the cabinet. Y

3. The invention according to claim 2 and a resonator resiliently carried from the cabinet within said chamber.

4. The invention according to claim 2 and said panels oi material closely woven and said passages being approximately one quarter of an inch in width.

5. The invention according to claim 2 land said panels of material being closely woven and a covering of loosely woven material extending between said members about the peripheries thereof and enveloping all of said panels and bridging said passages.

6. The invention according to claim 2 and a 'first speaker mounted in the cabinet in opposing relation to the baille and a second speaker mounted within the cabinet in opposing relation to one of said members.

7. The invention according to claim 2 and a resonator box within said chamber having a rst speaker therein voicing upwardly against said top member and a second speaker voicing toward said bale, and said box having a breather opening and a valve member extending across said opening.

References 'Cited in the yfile Yof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,589,408 Maxeld .lune 22, 1926 1,731,799 Thomas Oct. 15, 1929 1,732,495 Brower Oct. 22, 1929 1,891,968 Bidwell et al Dec. 27, 1932 1,932,343 Holland Oct. 24, 1933 2,065,367 Evans Dec. 22, 1936 2,145,318 Schenk et al. Ian. 31, 1938 2,580,916 Hodge Ian.' 1, 1952 2,680,787 Olson et al. .Tune 8, 1954 2,759,553 Bosley Aug. 21, 1956 2,777,902 Goldmark Jan. 15, 1957 2,834,423 Bradford May 13, 1.958 2,885,024 Jordan May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 849,253 Germany Sept. 11, 1952 `OTHER REFERENCES Y Publication: Popular Mechanics, October 1954, pages 246 and 247, article title, Two Low Cost High-Fidelity Speaker Enclosures.