US3347607A - Cabinet construction - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1967 L. J. KNIZE CABINET CONSTRUCTION 5 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1962 m MPM g m ATTORNEY v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. J. KNIZE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Oct. 17, 1967 Filed Sept. 12, 1962 INVENTOR LEON J. KNIZE ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 L. J. KNIZE CABINET CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 12, 1962 INVENTOR. LEON J. KNIZE Si /$6M ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 L. J. KNIZE 3,347,607

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

' LEON .1. KNIZE BY ATTORNEY Oct. 17, 1967 L. J. KNIZE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w A d .m .o m

We? MI I N w INVENTOR.

LEON J. KNIZE MAW ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,3416%? Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,347,607 CABINET CONSTRUCTION Leon J. Knize, Annapolis, Md, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Walter B. Udell, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Sept. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 223,110 16 Claims. (Cl. 312-8) This invention relates generally to cabinet constructions, and more particularly, relates to unitary cabinet structures of the console type which are employed to house the various elements of a home music entertainment center, as for example a record player, electronic amplifiers, radio tuner and loudspeaker system.

Prior to the instant invention console type cabinets were either available to the consumer as a finished unit complete with loudspeakers and electronic equipment pre-packaged by the manufacturer, or as empty cabinets made by furniture makers into which the various individually selected component parts of the desired sound system had somehow to be fitted. Pre-packaged systems could theoretically be available in a dozen or more different furniture styles and finishes, and with various combinations of component parts. For example there could be a choice of several different loudspeaker systems, different amplifiers with or without a radio tuner, FM and/ or AM tuners, and a number of different record players. The number of possible combinations of components and furniture styles becomes so large that it would be possible for a dealer to have available for selection at any given time only a very few models, both from the standpoint of display and warehouse space and that of inventory cost. Consequently, consumers would generally have to place a special order for the particular combination of cabinetry and components desired and then wait some considerable time until the manufacturer made a production run of that model. Manufacturers refuse to become involved with this type of situation because it amounts to a custom assembly operation, and offer instead perhaps a half dozen models en toto from which the consumer is constrained to select. This arrangement is gen erally unsatisfactory from the standpoint of the consumer because it always results in a compromise involving the combination of fine furniture with average sound or average furniture with fine sound.

The empty, or custom, cabinet into which individually selected components are assembled is a relatively costly approach because the advantages of low cost mass production and assembly are lost, and the end result may be somewhat unsightly unless expensive professional help is utilized. Additionally, regardless of whether these consoles are of the pre-packaged type or of the custom assembled type they have been for years subject to strong objection because of the generally unacceptable appearance of the grille cloths which cover the visible loudspeaker system openings. Even consoles having doors which cover such grille cloths are not free from criticism because the doors must of course be opened when the system is to be used. In short, these consoles advertise what they are, and are not capable of blending quietly into a room decor.

The cabinet construction according to my invention is limited in none of the aforedescribed ways, and accordingly it is a primary object of my invention to provide a novel cabinet construction which provides for the rapid assembly thereinto of a wide range of different sound reproduction system components to provide a finished and operating console in a matter of minutes without requiring the use of any tools.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel cabinet contruction as aforesaid wherein the assembly of the complete console may be carried out by either the vendor or the consumer by utilizing pre-made component modules all of which are quickly and easily securable within the cabinet structure and interconnectable for immediate operation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel cabinet construction system as aforesaid wherein any given component module is installable for use in any cabinet made according to the invention irrespective of cabinet size or style.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a novel console cabinet construction which when supplied with component modules as aforesaid reveals no evidence whatever that it houses a loudspeaker system or any other particular contents, even when in actual operation, and appears to be just another piece of furniture integrated into the room setting.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel concealed loudspeaker system for use with a console cabinet construction as aforesaid which provides for variable aural separation of the two channels of a stereophonic sound reproduction system without actually varying the physical spacing of the loudspeakers of the system.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become clear from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates in perspective view one possible form of console cabinet according to the invention, all of the doors and drawers being closed and the console being in energized operating condition;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the console of FIGURE 1 with the left hand drawer open to disclose one type of an electronic equipment control module, with the record player compartment lid up to reveal one type of record player module, with the doors open and the left end wall and top broken partially away to disclose certain interior constructional features;

FIGURE 3 illustrates in rear perspective the console of FIGURE 1 and shows one form of loudspeaker modules system completely concealed at the rear of the console for sound propagation over the surface of the closely adjacent wall which it faces;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a loudspeaker system module mounting as would be seen when viewed along line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a rear perspective of the console cabinet of FIGURE 1 with all of the modular components removed therefrom to disclose more clearly certain details of cabinet structure;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views through the empty cabinet of FIGURE 5 as would be seen when viewed respectively along lines 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 taken on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 illustrates in perspective as viewed from below an electronic equipment control module secured to the console drawer front and engaged with the cabinet slide structure;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the detail enclosed in the phantom circle on FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary interior perspective view of the left hand drawer region of the cabinet according to the invention with the drawer front and attached module of FIGURE 9 removed therefrom;

FIGURE 12 illustrates in perspective, as viewed from above, the wooden drawer carrier portion of the control module of FIGURE 9 with the cabinet drawer front separated therefrom and with the electronic equipment chassis removed;

FIGURE 13 illustrates in fragmentary perspective a portion of the record player compartment with a changer module shown in separated above-lying position;

FIGURE 14 illustrates a perspective view from above of a record player module compartment of the cabinet structure;

FIGURE 15 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary peripective view of the left rear corner section of one type )f record player module;

FIGURE 16 illustrates in representational form a typi- :al cable set for interconnecting the various modular :omponents of the console;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view through the rotatable iigh frequency loudspeaker mount of a loudspeaker sys- Zem module as would be seen when viewed along line 17-17 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotatable loudspeaker mount seen in section in FIGURE 17, as would be seen from the inside of the loudspeaker module with portions fragmented away; and

FIGURE 19 shows in perspective one of the midrange loudspeakers of a loudspeaker system module together with its angulated reflector.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Turning now to the figures, consider first the showings of FIGURES l to 8 in which there will be seen a console cabinet designated generally as 25 having a top 26 with liftable lid 26a hinged as at 2617, sides 27 and 28, front doors 29, 3t) and 31, drawer fronts 32, 33 and 34, and feet 35. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and to 8, the cabinet also includes a floor 36, a vertical partition 37 extending the full width of the cabinet between the sides 27 and 28 spaced forward from the rear edge of the cabinet and forming the rear wall of the compartment spaces behind the cabinet doors, a shelf 38 forming the top wall of the compartment space behind doors 29 and 3t), and vertical partition 39 etxending forward from wall 37 to the cabinet front between doors 30 and 31 to divide the space behind the doors into two separate compartments. It will of course be understood that additional partitions could be utilized if desired to further subdivide the space behind the cabinet doors. Each of the doors and drawer fronts is provided with a pull device 40 to elfect opening and closing thereof, and the doors are provided with appropriate retaining devices such as magnetic latches shown representationally as at 41.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, all of the doors 29, 30 and 31 are fully openable and closable, and when open disclose completely empty interior cabinet space which may be utilized for any desired purpose. For example, decorative articles for display might be artistically arranged therein, or the space could be used in a utilitarian manner to store linens, glassware or other desired items. In contrast however to the doors, the only movable drawer front is that designated as 32, the drawer fronts 33 and 34 being permanently fixed in position and having no drawer structures secured thereto. The space at the rear portion of the shelf 38 behind drawer front 33 is occupied by an electronic power amplifier 42 installable and removable from the rear of the cabinet 25 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. The space behind fixed drawer front 34 is occupied by the record player module 43 which latter is accessible by lifting the lid 26a in the manner generally shown in FIGURE 2, and which will be subsequently described in connection with FIGURES 12 to 14.

The movable drawer front 32 is mounted to the electronic control module 44- which may include the manually controlable functions normally associated with a control pre-amplifier with or without a radio tuner, the drawer front 32 and module 44 being shiftable as a unit into and out of the cabinet 25 by means of a two part drawer slide structure generally designated 45, all of which will be subsequently described in connection with FIGURES 9 to 12. As will become clear, the movable drawer 32 and module 44 could if desired be located at the center position shown as occupied by fixed drawer front 33 attended by a shifting of amplifier 42 to the left to the position vacated by the module 44.

As best seen in FIGURES 5 to 8 a concealed rectangular space is located at the rear of the cabinet 25 behind the rear wall 37, bounded at opposite ends by the sides 27 and 28 and at the top and bottom by shelf 38 and floor region 36a respectively. As will be appreciated from the figures, the existence of this space is visually undetectable from any normal viewing position relative to the cabinet 25, and this is true even when the doors are open. It is within this space that the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b of the console are installed as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the loudspeakers being oriented to deliver their sound output generally toward the wall of the room which the rear of the cabinet faces and from which it is usually spaced by two to three inches.

Secured to and extending upward from the floor region 36a are support blocks 4-7 to the upper surfaces of which are afiixed resilient pads 48 upon which the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b are seatingly disposable in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. Secured to the rear surface of rear wall 37 behind the loudspeaker modules are resilient cushions 49 best seen in FIGURES 5 to 8. Positional stability of the loudspeaker system modules is effected by means of resilient support straps 54 which secure these modules to the cabinet structure in the manner best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 to which reference should be now had.

The resilient strap 54, which may be of rubber, is metal grommeted as at 55 and 56 and is secured to the loudspeaker system module by means of washer 57 and screw 58. The rear edge of shelf 38 is drilled as at 59 so that an internally-externally threaded bushing 60 may be screwed thereinto and anchored by its exterior screw threads 61. The interior machine screw threads of the bushing 60 are threadedly engaged by the exterior threads of wingbolt 62 which is projected through washer 63 and grommet 55. Thus, the loudspeaker system modules may be secured in operative position and released therefrom in practically no time by merely manipulating the wingbolts 62 by grips 64. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b are effectively mechanically decoupled from the cabinet structure by the resilient pads 48, cushion 49 and straps 54 so that acoustic feedback to the record player module 43 is prevented.

The cabinet rear wall 37 is observed to be a two layer arrangement including a major structural panel 50 perforated over its surface as at 51 and covered on its front surface by an imperforate layer 52. The imperforate layer 52 is preferably made of heavy paper, fabric or even wood veneer coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and adhesively pressed to the perforated panel 50, which latter may be perforated wood, hardboard or other suitable material. The face of layer 52 which is visible when the doors of the cabinet are opened is suitably finished to blend with the cabinet interior and give the appearance of the expected wooden rear wall. When, however, it is desired to utilize the compartment space behind doors 29 and 30 to house a heat generating device such as a television set, then the layer 52 within the compartment may be peeled back and removed to provide rear venting for heat dissipation through the holes 51 with which the panel 51 is perforated. The shelf 38 is also preferably perforated as at 53 to allow for convection cooling of the amplifier 42 and control module 44.

Considering now also FIGURES 9 to 12, it is observed that the drawer front 32 is secured to the control module 44 by means of a pair of L-shaped brackets 65, only one of which is visible because of the viewing angle. One leg 66 of bracket is seated in recess 67 cut into the rear face of the drawer front 32, while the other leg 68 of the bracket is seated in recess 69 cut back from the front edge and in from the outer face of the side panel 71 of the module carrier portion 76. The carrier side panels 71 are secured together at their fore ends by front panel 72, and at their rear ends by cross piece 73. The module carrier is completed by the top escutcheon panel 74 extending between and secured to the side panels 71,

the escutcheon panel being suitably apertured to accept control shafts and push buttons of the electronic section.

The center lower edges of the carrier front panel 72 and rear piece 73 are upwardly recessed to receive the ends of the upper section 75 of drawer slide 45 which are secured thereto by means of screws 75a. The drawer slide lower section 76 is secured to cabinet shelf 38 as best seen in FIGURE 11, and includes a stop pin 77 which stops the outward movement of the module in its proper position as seen in FIGURE 2. The stop pin can be forcibly overridden so that the module can be initially inserted or later removed if necessary, as for example when it is required to service the electronic section of the control module.

The complete control module 44 is of course composed of the carrier 70 and the electronic section assembly 78 fitted within and secured to the carrier by means of the screws 79 prior to attaching the drawer slide upper section 75. The entire module 44 is then securable to the drawer front 32 by means of the screws 80 and 81 projected respectively through horizontal slot 82 in leg 66 of bracket 65 and vertical slot 83 in leg 68 of bracket 65. The horizontal orientation of bracket slot 82 permits lateral centering of the drawer front 32 with the module slide section 75 engaged with the slide section 76 secured within the cabinet, while the vertical orientation of bracket slot 83 permits vertical centering of the drawer front.

It should be now clear that any type of control module 44 can be installed to the drawer front 32 in precisely this way quite independently of the specific makeup of the electronic assembly 78 housed in the carrier 70. For example, the electronic assembly 78 in one case may include one type of control preamplifier unit combined with an FM tuner, whereas in another case it may include a more sophisticated preamplifier combined with an AM/ FM tuner, or in yet a third case may consist of a control preamplifier with no radio tuner provision whatever. The module carriers 70 in the above-mentioned three cases would be the same except for the top escutcheon panels 74 which would of course be suitably apertured to properly accommodate the various electronic assemblies 78. Thus, a wide range of pre-wired complete control modules 44 are available from which the prospective purchaser may choose without any need to consider either the cabinet itself or the makeup of any of the other modules which will eventually complete the console.

Consider now FIGURES l3, l4 and which illustrate various aspects of a typical record player module 43' and it organization with the console cabinet 25. As best seen in FIGURES 13, 14 and 8, a ledge 84 extends horizontally rearward from the top of vertical wall 37 to the cabinet rear vertical wall section 85 within the compartment behind door 31 at the same elevation as shelf 38. The ledge 84 is cut out as 'at 86 to accommodate the power and signal cabling connection from one part of the module to another. The rear wall 85 of the cabinet is cut out at 87 to provide cabling access to the rear of the module 43 when the latter is installed in position as shown in FIGURE 2. Secured to the partition 39, side wall 28, drawer front 34 and upper edge of skirt panel 34a in plane with the rear ledge 84 are corner blocks 88 and 89. Fixedly secured to and extending vertically upward from each corner block and the rear ledge 84 are indexing pins 90.

The record player module 43 consists of the module carrier 91, a record changer or single record player designated generally as 92, and various components such as power and control plug 93, pick-up cartridge signal output jacks 94, auxiliary speakers terminal board 95, switches 96, 97, 98, earphones jack 99 and compartment light-100. The aforesaid various components are mounted to and/or within the hollow upstanding box-like housing 101 secured to and extending longitudinally across the rear of the module carrier base board 102, the housing 101 comprising the parallel spaced vertically extending rear and front walls 103 and 104 respectively closed over at their top edges by horizontally extending top panel 105. In addition to the aforesaid components carried by or within the housing 101 are a translucent pane 106 cover ing a window in the housing front wall 104 through which the light illuminates the phonograph compartment, and a door 107 pivotally secured by screw 108 to rear housing wall 103 to cover an opening therein through which the compartment light 100 may be reached for replacement when necessary.

The light 100 may be turned on and off by switch 96 energizable from plug 93. Switch 98 is wired in circuit with a record player controlled switch and main power through plug 93 so that in one position of the switch 98 the entire console may be automatically turned off at the conclusion of the last record. Auxiliary speaker terminal board 95 is wired through speaker system selector switch 97 to plug 93, switch 97 selecting whether the console speakers, auxiliary speakers, or both are to be driven by the power amplifier 42. Earphones jack 99 provides for connection of an earphones set, and in the usual manner disconnects the console speakers when the earphones are plugged into the jack. Jacks 94 connect via shielded leads to the stereo output terminals of the record player pickup cartridge.

As best seen in FIGURE 13, the undersurface of module carrier baseboard 102 is vertically counterbored at points in alignment with the indexing pins 90, and resilient tubular feet 109 are cemented thereinto with their vertically extending axial open bores positioned to receive the indexing pins when the module is seated down upon rear ledge 84 and corner blocks 88 and 89.

The particular make and/or model of record changer or turntable 92 is optional, and various different ones are mounted to module carriers 91 to provide the purchaser with a choice. Additionally, other module carriers are provided which eliminate one or more of the components 95 through 100, 106 and 107, the simplest carrier having merely the jacks 94 and plug 93. Thus, a wide range of pre-wired complete record player modules 43 are available from which the prospective purchaser may choose Without any need to consider either the cabinet itself or the makeup of any of the other modules which will eventually complete the console.

Consider now FIGURE 16 which illustrates representationally a power amplifier 42, record player module 43, control module 44 and loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b installed in a cabinet and operatively interconnected by cables 110, 111, 112 and 113. These cables to 113 are universal and are used with any combination of different modules. The cables and their connections are color coded so that anyone may properly connect the same merely by color matching. For example, shielded conductors 110a and 110b of cable 110 may be gray and black respectively and therefore be connectable to the jacks 94 of record player module 43 and those of the control module 44 which are similarly coded with gray and black colored patches 114a and 114b respectively. Similarly, conductors 111a and 11112 of cable 111 are respectively color matched to color patches 115a and 11512 identifying particular jacks associated with power amplifier 42 and control module 44.

Cable 110 carries the stereo signals generated by the record player pickup to the control module amplifier circuits for equalization and amplification thereof, the signals being thereafter conducted via cable 111 to power amplifier 42 where the signal power level is raised to a point sufiicient to adequately drive the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b. Operating power for control module 44 and on-off power switching circuit for the entire console are carried to control module 44 from amplifier 42 by multi-conductor cable 112, the cable plugs 116 and 117 being respectively coded with different color patches 116a and 117a which have identical counterpart color patches dentifying the sockets into which the plugs are properly nsertable.

Cable 113 which terminates at the record player nodule 43 in female plug 93a adapted to mate with male ilug 93 mounted to rear housing wall 103 of the record layer module is composed of three individual cables 118, .19 and 120. Cables 119 and 120 terminate respectively n plugs 121 and 122, plugs 93a and 121 being color patch :oded as at 123 and 124 respectively while plug 122 gen- :rally need not be so coded because the physical configlration of the cable 113 permits its coupling only with a rocket located at the position of socket 122a of loudspeakr system module 46a visible in FIGURE 3. If desired, of :ourse, plug 122 could be color coded in the manner previ- )usly described, as could plug 125 which terminates cable [26 at loudspeaker system module 46b. Cable 118 termiiates at amplifier 42 in a plurality of color coded conduc- ZOIS A, B, C, D and E which are respectively connected IO terminals of terminal board correspondingly color :oded A, B, C, D and E. This terminal board 127 and ;eparate conductors A, B, C, D, E could be replaced by 1 plug and socket arrangement if desired. Electric power is supplied to the entire console through line cord 128 of power amplifier 42.

Cable 119 transmits power to the record player module to operate the motor of turntable or changer 92 and compartment light 100. Cable 118 connects the output taps of the amplifier 42 audio output transformers to the switch 97 of the record player module 43 which connects the appropriate taps to loudspeaker modules 46a and 46b via cables 120 and 126, and/or connects the proper output taps to auxiliary speaker terminal board 95. If the record player module is not provided with the speaker system switch 97 and terminal board 95, then module plug 93 is appropriately wired to effect connection back into cable 120 to operate the console speaker systems modules 46b and 46a.

Returning now to a consideration of the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b shown in FIGURE 3, it is observed that these modules are mirror images of each other and together comprise the two channels of a stereophonic loudspeaker system. Each module includes a low frequency driver 129, a midrange driver 130 and a high frequency driver 131 mounted. by an enclosure 132. The enclosure 132 is internally bafiled to isolate the back of the midrange driver cone from the low frequency driver chamber, the high frequency driver 131 being also isolated by means of a novel rotatable driver mount 133 which also provides for variable aural channel separation. The structural features and operation of the rotatable mount 133 are shown most clearly in FIGURES 17 and 18 to which reference should be also now made.

The mount 133 includes an angle block 134 having a planar front face 136 disposed at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the vertical and to the planar rear face 135, an annular circular disc 137 disposed closefittingly rotatably within a circular hole 138 cut through the speaker board 139 of the enclosure132 and having its front face sealingly secured as by gluing to the rear face 135 of the angle block 134, and a clamping stop block 140 centrally apertured as at 141 and secured to the disc 137 by means of wood screws 142. The angle block 134 is drilled and counterbored as at 143 and 144 perpendicularly to the plane of front face 136 to provide a mounting recess for high frequency driver 131, the driver when mounted extending rearward into the central aperture of annular disc 137. The driver voice coil leads are led back through hole 141 of the clamping stop block 140, and the hole 141 is then plugged with putty or a hard setting epoxy.

The screws 142 are pulled up so as to clamp the opposite faces of speaker board 139 between the front face of clam-ping block 140 and the rear face 135 of angle block 134 but not clamped so tightly as to prevent hand rotation of angle block 134. A substantially airtight seal is thus effected between the inside and outside of the enclosure 132, and the high frequency driver 131 is isolated from the high pressures developed in the low frequency driver compartment. A 360 degree rotation stop is provided for the driver mount 133 by fixed stop pin 145 extending from one wall of enclosure 132 and movable pin 146 extending from clamping stop block 140. These stop members 145 and 146 prevent windup of the voice coil leads to driver 131 by preventing more than a single full turn in either direction.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the rotatable high frequency driver mounts 133 are oriented to produce maximum channel separation of the left and right channels of the stereophonic speaker system, cross mixing being obtained when the mounts 133 are each rotated degrees from their illustrated positions. Intermediate degrees of channel blending or separation are of course obtained by intermediate degrees of rotation. As a practical matter the maximum rotational range of significance includes only the quadrant of rotation between the illustrated case of FIGURE 3 and the upright position obtained by rotating the amounts 133 of modules 46a and 46b respectively clockwise and counterclockwise. This, or any other, limited range of rotation may be provided for by utilizing a second movable pin such as pin 147 shown in dashed outline.

The angulation of the high frequency driver cone by means of the angle block 134 helps the sound to get out from behind the console cabinet when the latter is relatively close to a room wall. Under such wall proximity conditions a marked improvement in sound is also effected by providing acoustical reflectors for the midrange drivers, such an arrangement being shown in FIG- URES 3 and 19 and consisting of a rigid reflector 148 inclined at 45 degrees to the cone axis of driver 130 and secured at opposite ends to speaker board 139 by blocks 149. As shown the reflectors 148 intercept the driver energy propagated generally from the midcone region and reflect the same upwardand outward in accordance with the rotated position of the reflectors 148.

As in the cases of the control module 44 and record player modules 43, the loudspeaker system modules 46a and 46b may in one case be three speaker modules, in other cases be two or four speaker modules, and so forth, the particular module selected being within the choice of the purchaser. Similarly, a plurality of different power amplifiers 42 are also provided for selection, these amplifiers differing only with regard to their power output ratings.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications thereof may now occur from time to time to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential spirit or scope of my invention, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A console cabinet for housing the components of a residential music center, comprising in combination a top wall and a bottom wall spaced therebelow, a pair of spaced apart opposite side Walls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall perforated over its surface secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear wall being spaced uniformly forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment which latter is completely open at its rear to receive therethrough a pre-packaged loudspeaker system, said rear compartment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, and a plurality of doors closing the front of the cabinet front compartment and being openable to provide access to the interior thereof, said divider rear wall including a main panel and a removable imperforate finish facing layer detachably secured to the main panel front surface.

2. A console cabinet for housing the components of a residential music center, comprising in combination, a top wall, a bottom wall spaced below said top wall, a pair of spaced apart opposite sidewalls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear wall being spaced forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment therebehind which latter is completely open at its rear to receive therethrough a pre-packaged rear facing loudspeaker system, both of said compartments extending substantially the full width of said cabinet, said rear compartment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, a plurality of doors and drawer fronts closing the front of the cabinet, said doors being openable to provide access to the entire widthwise interior of said front compartment, at least one of said drawer fronts including means for adjustably positionally fixedly connecting the same to an electronic control module carrier, means carried by said cabinet for detachably securing thereto a control module carrier for drawer-like motion into and out of said cabinet, a record player module carrier including means for physically mounting a record player thereto together with power and signal line terminating connections, and means within a portion of said front compartment for supporting said record player module carrier.

3. A console cabinet for housing the components of a residential music center, comprising in combination, a top wall, a bottom Wall spaced below said top wall, a pair of spaced apart opposite sidewalls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear wall being spaced forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment therebehind which latter is completely open at its rear to receive therethrough a pre-packaged rear facing loudspeaker system, both of said compartments extending substantially the full width of said cabinet, said rear compartment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, a plurality of doors and drawer fronts closing the front of the cabinet, said doors being openable to provide access to the entire widthwise interior of said front compartment, an electronic control module carrier in the form of a drawer, at least one of said drawer fronts being connected by adjustable means to said control module carrier to function as a face therefor, said adjustable means providing for vertical and lateral shiftability of said drawer front relative to said control module carrier for proper indexing therebetween, means associated partially with said cabinet and partially with said control module carrier for detachably securing the latter for drawer-like motion into and out of said cabinet.

4. A console cabinet for housing the components of a residential music center, comprising in combination, a top wall, a bottom wall spaced below said top wall, a pair of spaced apart opposite sidewalls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear wall being spaced forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment therebehind which latter is completely open at its rear to receive therethrough a pre-packaged rear facing loudspeaker system, both of said compartments extending substantially the full width of said cabinet, said rear compartment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and'being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, a plurality of doors and drawer fronts closing the front of the cabinet, said doors being openable to provide access to the entire widthwise interior of said front compartment, an electronic control module carrier in the form of a drawer, at least one of said drawer fronts being connected by adjustable means to said control module carrier to function as a face therefor, said adjustable means providing for vertical and lateral shiftability of said drawer front relative to said control module carrier for proper indexing therebetween, means associated partially with said cabinet and partially with said control module carrier for detachably securing the latter for drawer-like motion into and out of said cabinet, a record player module carrier in cluding means for physically mounting a record player thereto together with power and signal line terminating connections, and means within a portion of said front compartment for supporting said record player module carrier.

5. A residential music center console comprising in combination,

(a) a cabinet for housing the music center components, including a top wall, a bottom wall spaced below said top wall, a pair of spaced apart opposite side Walls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear wall being spaced forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment therebehind which latter is adapted to house a rear-facing loudspeaker system module and each of which compartments extends substantially the full width of said cabinet, said rear compartment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, a plurality of doors and drawer fronts closing the front of the cabinet with said doors being openable to provide access to the entire widthwise interior of said front compartment and with at least one of said drawer fronts including means for connecting the same to an electronic control module carrier, means carried by the cabinet for detachably securing thereto such a control module carrier for drawer-like motion into and out of the cabinet, and means within a portion of said front compartment for supporting a record player module carrier,

(b) an electronic control module comprising, an electronic control assembly for selecting and modifying program source material, and a carrier for said control assembly, said control assembly having a plurality of coded connectors associated with the circuits thereof, said control assembly carrier being detachably secured for drawer-like motion into and out of the said cabinet by the aforesaid cabinet-carried means and being connected to said at least one drawer front by the aforesaid connecting means associated with the latter so that the drawer front functions as a face for the carrier,

(c) a record player module comprising, a record player mechanism including a turntable and pick-up device, and a carrier for said record player mechanism, said record player carrier including means physically mounting said record player mechanism thereto together with coded terminating connectors to which the record player mechanism energizing circuits and pick-up signal leads are connected, said record player module being removably supported as a unit within the aforesaid cabinet front compartment portion,

(d) a self contained loudspeaker system module comprising, a loudspeager enclosure having front and rear faces, top, bottom and side walls joined together, the front-to-rear dimension of the enclosure being substantially equal to the front-to-rear depth of the cabinet rear compartment, the enclosure being positioned within the compartment with its front face proximate the said cabinet rear wall and with its rear face presenting to the open rear of the cabinet, a plurality of loudspeakers carried by the said enclosure rear face so as to direct their sound wave output rearward away from the front of the enclosure and cabinet, a coded connector having conductor leads extending therefrom through said enclosure and by means of which said plurality of loudspeakers are energizable,

(e) an audio power amplifier for raising the power level of signals delivered thereto from the said electronic control assembly for driving the loudspeakers of said loudspeaker system module, said power amplifier having a plurality of coded connectors associated therewith,

(f) a plurality of pre-formed coded cables for interconnecting into an operative unit the aforesaid control module, record player module, loudspeaker system module and audio power amplifier, the coding of each of said cables finding a unique counterpart in the coding of specific ones of the connectors of the several modules so that by code matching the various modules must necessarily be properly interconnected.

6. The combination according to claim further including resilient support means partly associated with said loudspeaker system module and partly associated with said cabinet for acoustically decoupling the cabinet from the module to thereby prevent acoustic feedback from said loudspeaker module to said record player module.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the coding of the connectors of each of said modules and of said cables constitutes color coding so that the various cables are matchable to their respective proper module connectors by color matching.

8. The combination according to claim 5 further including a reflector disposed transversely to the cone axis of one of said plurality of loudspeakers of said loudspeaker system module and extending across the central portion of the face of the speaker at an angle thereto so as to direct a portion of the sound wave output therefrom upward toward the top of the enclosure and the cabinet.

9. The combination according to claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of loudspeakers carried by said enclosure rear face of the loudspeaker system module is mounted in an angle block rotatable mount, said angle block having a pair of angularly related planar faces one of which is positioned flush with the rear face of said enclosure and the other of which extends at an angle thereto with the face of the loudspeaker mounted therein substantially in plane therewith, and means rotatably securing said angle block to said enclosure so that the inclination of the cone axis of the mounted loudspeaker can be varied with regard to both the horizontal and the vertical by rotation of said angle block.

10. The combination according to claim 9 further including angle block rotation stop means partly fixedly secured to said enclosure and partly coupled to said angle block for rotation therewith, said stop means being engageable to prevent more than a predetermined rotation of said angle block.

11. A loudspeaker system module comprising an enclosure having front and rear faces, top, bottom and side walls joined together, a plurality of loudspeakers carried by the said enclosure rear face so as to direct their sound wave output rearward away from the front of said enclosure, the front-to-rear dimension of the enclosure being substantially less than the side-to-side and top-to-bottom dimensions and being just sufiicient to permit the deepest of said plurality of loudspeakers to fit within the enclosure, whereby said enclosure is thin in front-to-back dimension and is adapted for concealed placement behind articles of furniture with its rear face disposed proximate to and facing a wall of a room.

12. The combination according to claim 11 further including a reflector disposed transversely to the cone axis of one of said plurality of loudspeakers of said loudspeaker system module and extending across the central portion of the face of the speaker at an angle thereto so as to direct a portion of the sound wave output there from upward toward the top of the enclosure.

13. The combination according to claim 11 wherein one of said plurality of loudspeakers carried by said enclosure rear face of the loudspeaker system module is mounted in an angle block rotatable mount, said angle block having a pair of angularly related planar faces one of which is positioned flush with the rear face of said enclosure and the other of which extends at an angle thereto with the face of the loudspeaker mounted therein substantially in plane therewith, and means rotatably securing said angle block to said enclosure so that the inclination of the cone axis of the mounted loudspeaker can be varied with regard to both the horizontal and the vertical by rotation of said angle block.

14. A loudspeaker system enclosure including a loudspeaker mounted in an angle block rotatable mount, said angle block having a pair of angularly related planar faces one of which is positioned flush with one face of said enclosure and the other of which extends at an angle thereto with the face of the loudspeaker mounted therein substantially in plane therewith, and means rotatably securing said angle block to said enclosure so that the inclination of the cone axis of the mounted loudspeaker can be varied with regard to both the horizontal and the vertical by rotation of said angle block.

15. The combination according to claim 14 further including angle block rotation stop means partly fixedly secured to said enclosure and partly coupled to said angle block for rotation therewith, said stop means being engageable to prevent more than a predetermined rotation of said angle block.

16. A console cabinet for housing the components of a residential music center, comprising in combination, a top Wall, a bottom wall spaced below said top wall, a pair of spaced apart opposite sidewalls secured to said top and bottom walls, a divider rear wall secured to and extending between said side walls and upward from said bottom wall, said rear Wall being spaced forward from the rear edge of each of said other walls to thereby form a front compartment and a rear compartment therebehind which latter is completely open at its rear to receive therethrough a prepackaged rear facing loudspeaker system, both of said compartments extending substantially the full width of said cabinet, said rear comparment being of smaller volume than said front compartment and being invisible except when the cabinet is viewed from the rear, a plurality of doors and drawer fronts closing the front of the cabinet, said doors being openable to provide access to the entire widthwise interior of said front compartment, a shelf extending horizontally forward from the upper edge of said divider rear wall toward the front of the cabinet at substantially the line of division between the tops of the doors and the bottoms of the drawer fronts, an electronic control module carrier in the form of a drawer, at least one of said drawer fronts being connected by adjustable means to said control module .carrier to function as a face therefor, said adjustable means providing for vertical and lateral shiftability of said drawer front relative to said control module carrier for proper indexing therebetween, means associated partially with said cabinet and partially with said control module carrier for detachably securing the latter for drawer-like motion into and out of said cabinet, a record player module carrier including means for physically mounting a record player thereto together with power and signal line terminating connections, and means within a portion of said front compartment for supporting said record player module carrier.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Linden 312214 X Victorsohn 3128 5 Kent 325-352 X Freimann 3128 McDonald.

Iakeway 312-8 Reid 274-2 X Clingrnan 312-8 10 Roulet 312-8 X Gladstone 18131 Watts 18131 14 FOREIGN PATENTS 317,185 8/ 1929 Great Britain. 852,707 10/ 1960 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES J. Markell and J. Stanton-Insta1ling Hi-Fi Systems Pub. 1960 by Gernsback Library, Inc., New York 11, N.Y., pages 42-45 and 14. (Copy from Maryland Public Library.)

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

Kitamura 15 A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 5. A RESIDENTIAL MUSIC CENTER CONSOLE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A CABINET FOR HOUSING THE MUSIC CENTER COMPONENTS, INCLUDING A TOP WALL, A BOTTOM WALL SPACED BELOW SAID TOP WALL, A PAIR OF SPACED APART OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS SECURED TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, A DIVIDER REAR WALL SECURED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND UPWARD FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID REAR WALL BEING SPACED FORWARD FROM THE REAR EDGE OF EACH OF SAID OTHER WALLS TO THEREBY FROM A FRONT COMPARTMENT AND A REAR COMPARTMENT THEREBEHIND WHICH LATTER IS ADAPTED TO HOUSE A REAR-FACING LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM MODULE AND EACH OF WHICH COMPARTMENTS EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF SAID CABINET, SAID REAR COMPARTMENT BEING OF SMALLER VOLUME THAN SAID FRONT COMPARTMENT AND BEING INVISIBLE EXCEPT WHEN THE CABINET IS VIEWED FROM THE REAR, A PLURALITY OF DOORS AND DRAWER FRONTS CLOSING THE FRONT OF THE CABINET WITH SAID DOORS BEING OPENABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE WIDTHWISE INTERIOR OF SAID FRONTS INCLUDING AND WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DRAWER FRONTS INCLUDING MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE SAME TO AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CARRIER, MEANS CARRIED BY THE CABINET FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THERETO SUCH A CONTROL MODULE CARRIER FOR DRAWER-LIKE MOTION INTO AND OUT OF THE CABINET, MEANS WITHIN A PORTION OF SAID FRONT COMPARTMENT FOR SUPPORTING A RECORD PLAYER MODULE CARRIER, (B) AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE COMPRISING, AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY FOR SELECTING AND MODIFYING PROGRAM SOURCE MATERIAL, AND A CARRIER FOR SAID CONTROL ASSEMBLY, SAID CONTROL ASSEMBLY HAVING A PLURALITY OF CODED CONNECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIRCUITS THEREOF, SAID CONTROL ASSEMBLY CARRIER BEING DETACHABLY SECURED FOR DRAWER-LIKE MOTION INTO AND OUT OF THE SAID CABINET BY THE AFORESAID CABINET-CARRIED MEANS AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID AT LEAST ONE DRAWER FRONT BY THE AFORESAID CONNECTING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LATTER SO THAT THE DRAWER FRONT FUNCTIONS AS A FACE FOR THE CARRIER, (C) A RECORD PLAYER MODULE COMPRISING, A RECORD PLAYER MECHANISM INCLUDING A TURNTABLE AND PICK-UP DEVICE, RECORD PLAYER CARRIER INCLUDING MEANS PHYSICALLY RECORD PLAYER CARRIER INCLUDING MEANS PHYSICALLY MOUNTING SAID RECORD PLAYER MECHANISM THERETO TOGETHER WITH CODED TERMINATING CONNECTORS TO WHICH THE RECORD PLAYER MECHANISM ENERGIZING CIRCUITS AND PICK-UP SIGNAL LEADS ARE CONNECTED, SAID RECORD PLAYER MODULE BEING REMOVABLY SUPPORTED AS A UNIT WITHIN THE AFORESAID CABINET FRONT COMPARTMENT PORTION, (D) A SELF CONTAINED LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM MODULE COMPRISING, A LOUDSPEAKER ENCLOSURE HAVING FRONT AND REAR FACES, TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS JOINED TOGETHER,

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