US3789953A

US3789953A - Sound reproduction system

Info

Publication number: US3789953A
Application number: US00222262A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Everitt
Original assignee: ACCOUSTIC FIBER SOUND SYST Inc
Current assignee: INDIANA NATIONAL BANK; ACCOUSTIC FIBER SOUND SYST Inc
Priority date: 1972-01-31
Filing date: 1972-01-31
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

A plurality of generally tubular members of corrugated fiberboard, each rectangular in transverse cross-section and including four panels, are nested one within the other to form a closed six-walled housing, each wall comprising back-to-back panels secured together with the corrugations thereof extending in mutually perpendicular directions, each tubular member being formed of a continuous sheet of fiberboard folded to the tubular configuration and having opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed centrally of one of said panels. One form of the invention comprises three tubular members nested together with the axes thereof mutually perpendicular. Another form of the invention comprises two tubular members nested together coaxially, with the inner member having four end flaps at each end thereof disposed in use in a folded configuration wherein opposed flaps are coplanar and joined together to form back-to-back end panels at each end of the tubular member for closing same.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Everitt Feb. 5, 1974 [73] Assignee: Accoustic Fiber Sound Systems, Inc.,

Indianapolis, Ind.

221 Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 222,262

[75] Inventor:

[57] ABSTRACT A plurality of generally tubular members of corrugated fiberboard, each rectangular in transverse crosssection and including four panels, are nested one within the other to form a closed six'walled housing, each wall comprising back-to-back panels secured together with the corrugations thereof extending in mutually perpendicular directions, each tubular member being formed of a continuous sheet of fiberboard [52] US. Cl 181/31 B folded to the tubular configuration and having oppo- [51] Int. Cl G10k 13/00, H041 1/28 site side edges thereof joined together to form a seam [58] Field of Search 181/31 B disposed centrally of one of said panels. One form of the invention comprises three tubular members nested [56] eferenc s C te together with the axes thereof mutually perpendicular. UNITED STATES PATENTS Another form of the invention comprises two tubular 2,041,777 5/1936 Olney et al 181/31 B members nested mgether coaxiany with the inner 2,992,695 7/1961 Everitt 181/31 B member having four end flaps at each end thereof 3,s20,55'9 7/1970 Ross 181/31 B posed in use n a folded configuration wherein op- 3,592,290 7/1971 Armstrong 181/31 B posed flaps are coplanar and joined together to form back-to-back end panels at each end of the tubular Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky member for closing same. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David A. Voge] 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 4/ 66 I 0 Q (Q ZL' I (C I; 48 2 9 49 5 73 7/ .a- 1 i I 7 3 Si: 72 RX 2 -r 35 9- r 5/ 23 \2/ I 55 32 f 49 SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM This invention relates to a sound reproduction system comprising a loudspeaker enclosure and a loudspeaker mounted therein.

More particularly, the present invention relates to loudspeaker enclosures formed of corrugated board, and is an improvement of the loudspeaker enclosure disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 2,992,695, entitled Loud Speaker Enclosure and issued on July 18, 1961, and of the loudspeaker enclosure disclosed in my copending US. application Ser. No. 222,263, entitled Sound Reproduction System, which application is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved loudspeaker enclosure of simple and economical construction which affords excellent acoustical characteristics and improved structural strength.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing having a plurality of walls, the housing having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of the housing walls including back-to-back portions of the sheets with the corrugations of each of the sheet portions extending perpendicular to the corrugations of adjacent sheet portions of the wall, each of the sheets having opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of the walls thereby to insure the integrity of the junctures between the walls, whereby there is provided a housing of increased structural strength with the perpendicular corrugations of adjacent sheet portions in each housing wall facilitating the suppression by the walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from the loudspeaker enclosure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a loudspeaker enclosure comprising three tubular members,

I each formed of one of the sheets of corrugated material folded to a tubular configuration substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section and including four panels disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member with the seam being disposed centrally of one of the panels of the tubular member, the tubular members being disposed in use in an assembled configuration snugly received one within another and secured together with the longitudinal axes thereof being mutually perpendicular for forming a closed housing havingsix walls, each one of the walls comprising back-to-back panels of different tubular mem bers having the corrugations thereof mutually perpendicular.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a loudspeaker enclosure of the type set forth, comprising a closed box-like member formed of a first continuous sheet of folded corrugated material and including four side panels and two end panels, each'of the side panels including a single layer of corrugations extending in a predetermined direction, each of the end panels including at least two layers of corrugations with the corrugations of each layer extending in directions substantially perpendicular to the directions of the corrugations of adjacent layers of the panel, and a tubular member formed of a second continuous sheet of corrugated material including four side panels and disposed in use in surrounding relationship with the box-like member and secured thereto with the side panels of the tubular member respectively disposed in back-to-back engagement with the side panels of the box-like member, the corrugations of each of the side panels of the tubular member extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the directions of the corrugations of the adjacent side panel of the box-like member.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the present invention to provide a loudspeaker enclosure of the type set forth, wherein the box-like member comprises a generally tubular member of square transverse cross-section, each of the side panels thereof having flaps at each end disposed in use in a folded configuration defining two-ply end walls closing the ends of the tube, the flaps at one end having recesses therein which mate when folded to define the opening in the one end wall.

In connection with the foregoing objects, it is another object of the invention to provide a sound reproduction system which includes a loudspeaker enclosure of the type set forth, and a loudspeaker mounted in the enclosure in alignment with the opening for radiating frontsound waves therethrough and for emitting back sound waves into the enclosure. 1

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the sound reproduction system whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a sound reproduction system and loudspeaker enclosure constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1, with the mounted position of the loudspeaker and electrical conductor being illustrated in broken line;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the loudspeaker enclosure of FIGS. 1 and 2, indicating the manner in which the parts of the loudspeaker enclosure are assembled;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a second embodiment of a sound reproduction system and loudspeaker enclousre constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4, with the mounted position of the loudspeaker and electrical conductor being illustrated in broken line;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the inner tubular member of the loudspeaker enclosure of FIG. 4, with the end flaps open; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the loudspeaker enclosure of FIG. 4, indicating the relationship of the various parts of the loudspeaker enclosure, and showing the inner tubular member with the end flaps closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a sound reproduction system, generally designated by the numeral 90, including a loudspeaker enclosure 10 having a loudspeaker mounted therein. The loudspeaker enclosure 10 is preferably in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and includes a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, and a pair of

opposedside walls

16 and 17, all of which cooperate to form a closed housing 15. The housing is formed of three generally tubular members, including an inner tubular member 20, an intermediate tubular member 30 and an outer tubular member 40, all nested together in an assembled configuration to form the closed housing 15. Each of the

tubular members

20, 30 and 40 is formed of corrugated material, preferably corrugated paper board or fiberboard, each of the

tubular members

20, 30 and 40 being formed of a single continuous sheet of the corrugated paper board, folded to the desired tubular configuration.

More particularly, the inner tubular member 20 is constructed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paper board, folded into a tubular configuration substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section, thereby to form a front panel 23, a rear panel 24, and a pair of

opposed side panels

26 and 27, opposed side edges of the corrugated sheet being joined together, as by suitable adhesive such as glue, to form a seam extending longitudinally of the inner tubular member 20 substantially centrally of the rear panel 24. Thus, it will be seen that the inner tubular member 20 comprises an open-ended rectangular tube with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed in use substantially vertically, the corrugations of the inner tubular member 20 extending in directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, as indicated by the double-ended arrows in FIG. 3. Formed in the front panel 23 of the inner tubular member 20 is a relatively large circular speaker opening 28 and a rectangular reflex port 29, while there is formed in the rear panel 24 a small circular connector opening (not shown), all for a purpose to be explained more fully below.

The intermediate tubular member 30 is formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paper board folded to form a tube substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section and arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed in use substantially horizontally. More particularly, the intermediate tubular member 30 includes a top panel 31, a bottom panel 32, a front panel 33 and a rear panel 34, with opposed side edges of the corrugated sheets being joined together, as by a suitable adhesive such as glue, to form a seam 35 extending longitudinally of the tubular member 30 substantially centrally of the rear panel 34 thereof. The corrugations of the intermediate tubular member 30 are arranged to extend in directions substantially normal of the longitudinal axis thereof, as indicated by the double-ended arrows in FIG; 3. The front panel 33 of the intermediate tubular member 30 has formed therein a relatively large circular speaker opening 38 and a rectangular reflex opening 39, the

openings

38 and 39 being respectively identical in configuration and position to the

openings

28 and 29 in the inner tubular member 20. Further, the rear panel 34 has formed therein a relatively small connector opening (not shown).

The outer tubular member 40 is also formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paper board folded to form an open-ended tube substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section. More particularly, the outer tubular member40 includes a top panel 41, a bottom panel 42, and a pair of

opposed side panels

46 and 47, with opposite side edges of the corrugated sheet being joined together, as by a suitable adhesive such as glue,

to form a seam 45 extending longitudinally of the outer tubular member 40 substantially centrally of the bottom panel 42. The corrugations of the outer tubular member 40 are arranged to extend in directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, as indicated by the double-ended arrows in FIG. 3.

It is a significant feature of the present invention that in each of the

tubular members

20, 30 and 40, the seam is located approximately centrally of one of the rectangular panels formed by the tubular member. More particularly, the seam 25 in the inner tubular member 20 is disposed centrally of the rear panel 24 thereof, the seam 35 of the intermediate tubular member 30 is disposed centrally of the rear panel 34 thereof, and the seam 45 of the outer tubular member 40 is disposed centrally of the bottom panel 42 thereof. The location of seams away from the comers of

tubular members

20, 30 and 40 serves to insure the structural integrity of the junctures between adjacent panels of each of the tubular members under nonnal wear and tear conditions for the loudspeaker enclosure 10. In addition, it will be noted that when the

tubular members

20, 30 and 40 are nested together in the assembled configuration thereof, the

seams

25 and 35 in the back-to-back

rear panels

24 and 34 will be disposed perpendicular to each other, thereby to insure the integrity of the seams and of the rear wall 14 of the closed housing 15.

In assembling the closed housing 15 of the loudspeaker enclosure 10, the inner tubular member 20 may be inserted within the intermediate tubular member 30, as indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 3, the intermediate tubular member 30 being dimensioned to receive the inner tubular member 20 therein in a snug sliding fit. When the

tubular members

20 and 30 are thus nested together, the top and

bottom panels

31 and 32 of the intermediate tubular member 30 respectively close the open top and bottom ends of the inner tubular member 20, while the

opposed side panels

26 and 27 of the inner tubular member 20 respectively close the open sides of the intermediate tubular member 30. Furthermore, when the

tubular members

20 and 30 are nested together in the manner described, the

front panels

23 and 33 thereof will be disposed in back-to-back engagement with each other to form the front wall 13 of the closed housing 15, and the

rear panels

24 and 34 will likewise be disposed in back-to-back engagement with each other to form the rear wall 14 of the closed housing 15. The speaker opening 28 and reflex port 29 of the inner tubular member 20 will be congruent with the speaker opening 38 and the reflex port 39 of the intermediate tubular member 30. Similarly, the connector openings in the

rear panels

24 and 34 will also be disposed in axial alignment with each other. The

front panels

23 and 33 are secured together by any suitable means, preferably by face gluing, the

rear panels

24 and 34 being secured together in like manner.

It will be noted that when the inner tubular member 20 is nested within the intermediate tubular member 30 in the manner described the corrugations of the backto-

back front panels

23 and 33 will be disposed perpendicular to each other and, likewise, the corrugations of the back-to-back

rear panels

24 and 34 will be disposed perpendicular to each other, whereby each of the front and

rear walls

13 and 14 of the closing housing 15 comprises a criss-cross pattern of corrugations. Further, it

will be noted that the seam 35 of the intermediate tubular member 30 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the seam of the inner tubular member 20.

The intermediate tubular member 30, with the inner tubular member 20 nested therewithin, may be inserted into the outer tubular member 40, as indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 3, the outer tubular member 40 being dimensioned to receive the intermediate tubular member therein in a snug sliding fit. The top and

bottom panels

41 and 42 and the

side panels

46 and 47 of the outer tubular member are also dimensioned to extend a predetermined distance forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and

rear panels

33 and 34 of the intermediate tubular member 30, when the intermediate tubular member 30 is nested within the outer tubular member 40 in the assembled configuration, thereby to form a front recess 48 and a rear recess 49, as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

When the

tubular members

20, 30 and 40 are thus assembled, the top and

bottom panels

31 and 32 of the intermediate tubular member 30 will respectively be disposed in back-to-back engagement with the top and

bottom panels

41 and 42 of the outer tubular member 40, thereby to form the top and bottom walls 11 and 12 of the closed housing 15, with the corrugations of the top and

bottom panels

31 and 32 being respectively disposed substantially perpendicular to the corrugations of the top and

bottom panels

41 and 42. Similarly, the

opposed side panels

26 and 27 of the inner tubular member 20 are respectively disposed in back-to-back engagement with the

opposed side panels

46 and 47 of the outer tubular member 40, thereby to form the

side walls

16 and 17 of the closed housing 15, with the corrugations of the

side panels

26 and 27 being respectively disposed perpendicular to the corrugations of the

side panels

46 and 47. Thus, each of the top and bottom walls 11 ans l2 and the

opposed side walls

16 and 17 of the closed-housing 15 comprises criss-cross layers of corrugations, the back-to-back panels of each of these walls being secured together by any suitable means, such as face gluing, to form a rigid unitary structure.

There is also provided a rectangular loudspeakermounting or baffle board generally designated by the numeral 50, having a front surface 52, a rear surface 53 and a peripheral side surface 54 and adapted to be received in the front recess 48 of the closed housing 15 substantially congruent with the front wall 13. The baffle board 50 is provided with a circular loudspeaker opening 51 and a rectangular reflex port 56 therein, the opening 51 and port 56 being respectively disposed in use in axial alignment with the

openings

28 and 30 and

ports

29 and 39 in the front wall 13 of the closed housing 15. However, the opening 51 has a diameter somewhat smaller than the diameters of the aligned

openings

28 and 38. A grille cloth of sound-transmitting fabric material covers the front surface 52 of the baffle board 50, the grille cloth 55 preferably being stretched over the peripheral side surface 54 of the baffle board 50 and secured thereto by suitable means, whereby the grille cloth 55 conceals the speaker opening 51 and the reflex port 56. While the baffle board 50 is preferably constructed of plywood, it will be appreciated that any other suitable material such as solid wood, particleboard, flakeboard, pressed fiberboard, composition .board or plastic, either foamed or solid, or corrugated board may also be used.

There is also provided a rectangular rear cover panel 60 formed of corrugated board and adapted to be re-' ceived in the rear recess 49 of the closed housing 15 for covering the rear wall 14 thereof, the rear cover panel 60 being secured to the rear wall 14 by any suitable means, such as face gluing. The rear cover panel 60 is provided with a small circular connector opening (not shown) therein, disposed in use in axial alignment with the connector openings'in the rear wall 14.

Preferably, the top and bottom walls 11 and 12, the

side walls

16 and 17 and the rear cover panel 60 of the speaker enclosure 10 are covered by a decorative facing of any desired material. More particularly, the rear surface of the rear cover panel 60 is covered by a decorative facing sheet 65 secured thereto by a suitable adhesive, while the outer surfaces of the top and bottom walls 11 and 12 and the

side walls

16 and 17 are all covered by a single continuous decorative facing sheet 66 with opposed side edges thereof joined together to form a seam substantially along the seam 45 in the bottom panel 42 of the outer tubular member 40. The front and rear edges of the decorative facing sheet 66 are respectively wrapped around the overhanging front and rear margins of the

panels

41, 42, 46 and 47 of the outer tubular member 40 which define the front and

rear recesses

48 and 49, for completely covering these overhanging portions as is best shown in FIG. 2. The decorative facing sheet 66 is secured to the outer tubular member 40 by suitable means such as face gluing.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

decorative facing sheets

65 and 66 are formed of suitably covered vinyl material, but it will be appreciated that any desired material may be used. Thus, it is anticipated that such materials as patterned paper or vinyls, either supported or non-supported, wood veneers, metal, plastics, either flexible or rigid, cloth, non-woven materials, leather, furs, foams, stone veneers, various woven or metal fabrics and materials, cork, glass or painted or sprayed materials may be used to form the

decorative facing sheets

65 and 66 to suit the needs and desires of individual customers.

A loudspeaker, generally designated by the numeral 70, is mounted within the loudspeaker enclosure 10. While the loudspeaker 70 may be of any desired type such as electrostatic, cone-type, etc., for purposes of illustration a cone-type loudspeaker is shown, including an electromagnet structure 71, and a cone-shaped diaphragm 72 provided at the open end thereof with one or more mounting flanges 73 extending radially outwardly therefrom. In use, the mounting flanges 73 are secured to the inner surface 53 of the baffle board 50 by a suitable adhesive or by any other desired means, such as screws, bolts, staples, clips and the like, with the diaphargm 72 disposed in axial alignment with the speaker opening 51 in the baffle board 50 and extending rearwardly therefrom, as is more clearly shown in the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 222,263. When the baffle board 50 is mounted in the front recess 48, as described above, the speaker diaphragm 72 will extend inwardly through the

speaker openings

28 and 38 in the front wall 13, whereby sound waves generated at the front surface of the diaphragm 72 will be radiated outwardly through the aligned

speaker openings

28, 38 and 51 to the exterior of the loudspeaker enclosure 10, while sound waves generated at the rear surface of the diaphragm 72 will be transmitted into the closed housing 15. At predetermined frequencies, these back sound waves will be radiated outwardly through the aligned

reflex ports

29, 39 and 56 in a well-known manner, while at other frequencies these back sound waves will be substantially suppressed by the walls of the loudspeaker enclosure 10, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Alternatively, the speaker flanges may be sandwiched between the

front panels

23 and 33 of the front wall 13 in such a way that the speaker mounting flanges are adhesively bonded or otherwise firmly supported and secured between these panels, thus holding the loudspeaker 70 rigidly in position in the speaker openings provided. Other alternative arrangements disclosed in my aforementioned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 222,263, may also be used. In this case, the baffle board may be eliminated and the grille cloth 55 may be mounted on a suitable pad or frame disposed in the front recess 48. Also, a baffle board of corrugated fiberboard having a recess in the rear surface thereof in surrounding relationship with the loudspeaker opening for receiving by loudspeaker mounting flanges may also be used, which arrangement is disclosed in greater detail in my aforementioned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 222,263. It will, of course, also be appreciated that, if desired, the mounting flanges 73 may be secured to the inner surface of the front wall 13, in the manner disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,695.

The electromagnet structure 71 of the loudspeaker 70 is connected by a conductor 74 to a connector (not shown) mounted in the rear wall 14 of the loudspeaker enclosure 10, and adapted to be connected to an associated source of electrical signal power. The structure and mounting arrangement of a preferred embodiment of such a connector is disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, Ser. No. 222,263.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as was described above, each of the walls of the closed housing 15 comprises two layers of corrugated paper board or fiberboard, the corrugations of which layers are disposed in directions perpendicular to each other. Each of these layers of corrugated paper board thereby serves to align incident sound waves in the direction of the corrugations, whereby the sound waves are aligned in mutually perpendicular directions in the two layers of corrugations in each wall of the closed housing 15, the net effect being substantially to cancel out the transmission of audible sound waves through the combined layers of corrugated material. Thus, this crisscross pattern of corrugations serves to effect suppression of those undesirable sound waves generated within the loudspeaker enclosure 10 which are not radiated outwardly through the reflex port, and to prevent generation of undesirable audible sound waves by the walls of the enclosure itself.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the loudspeaker enclosures of the present invention may be provided with a plurality of loudspeaker openings therein for respectively accommodating a plurality of different loudspeakers in more complex speaker systems. It will also be appreciated that the reflex ports 56 may be eliminated or additional reflex ports may be added as desired to meet the requirements of any specific sound system. Furthermore, it will be understood that the description of the assembly of the parts of the loudspeaker enclosure herein is simply for purposes of illustration and that other methods of forming the loudspeaker enclosures of the present invention may in fact be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the sound reproduction system of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 100. The sound reproduction system 100 includes a loudspeaker enclosure, generally designated by the numeral 110, having a loudspeaker 170 mounted therein. The loudspeaker enclosure 110 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which is substantially square in transverse crosssection. Preferably, the loudspeaker enclosure 110 is in the shape of a cube and includes a top wall 111, a bottom wall 112, a front wall 113, a rear wall 114, and a pair of

opposed side walls

116 and 1 17, all of which cooperate to form a closed housing 115. The housing 1 15 is formed of two generally tubular members, including an inner tubular member 120 and an outer tubular member 140, nested together in an assembled configuration to form the closed housing 115. Each of the generally

tubular members

120 and 140 is formed of corrugated material, preferably corrugated paperboard or fiberboard, each of the

tubular members

120 and 140 being formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paperboard, folded to the desired configuration.

More particularly, the inner tubular member 120 is constructed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paperboard, folded into a tubular configuration essentially square in transverse cross-section, thereby to form a top panel 121, a bottom panel 122, and a pair of

opposed side panels

126 and 127, opposed side edges of the corrugated sheet being joined together, as by taping, to form a seam 125 extending longitudinally of the inner tubular member 120 on any one of the corners thereof, such as the juncture between the top panel 121 and the side panel 127. Thus, it will be seen that the

panels

121, 122, 126 and 127 cooperate to define an open-ended rectangular tube with the longitudinal axis thereof disposed in use substantially horizon.- tally, the corrugations of the inner tubular member 120 extending in directions substantially parallel to the Iongitudinal axis of the inner tubular member 120, as indicated by the double-ended arrows in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Integral with each of the top and

bottom panels

121 and 122 at the opposite ends thereof respectively, are a front flap 132 and a rear flap 136, each of the

flaps

132 and 136 being generally rectangular in shape and having a width substantially equal to the width of the associated

panel

121 or 122 and extending therefrom a distance substantially equal to one-half the width thereof. In like manner, integral with each of the

side walls

126 and 127 at the opposite ends thereof respectively, are a front flap 133 and a rear flap 137, the front flaps 133 being shaped and dimensioned substantially identically to the front flaps 132 and the rear flaps 137 being shaped and dimensioned substantially identically to the rear flaps 136. Each of the

front flaps

132 and 133 has formed therein centrally of the free edge thereof, a relatively large semi-circular recess 139, while each of the

rear flaps

137 and 136 has formed therein centrally of the free edge thereof a relatively small semicircular recess 138. It will be noted that, as indicated above, the inner tubular member is integrally formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated material, the

flaps

132, 133, 137 and 136 being formed by appropriately cutting and scoring the corru- 9 gated sheet so that each of the flaps is hingedly connected to the associated panel.

In use, the

flaps

132, 133, 137 and 136 are all folded to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. More particularly, the front flaps 132 are folded inwardly to a position wherein they are coplanar with each other with the free edges thereof abutting. The abutting edges of the flaps 132 are then secured together as by gluing to form a seam 123, the coplanar flaps 132 thereby forming a front inner panel 130 for closing the front end of the inner tubular member 120. In this folded configuration, the semi-circular recesses 139 of the flaps 132 mate to define a circular opening in the front inner panel 130. The front flaps 133 are then folded inwardly to a position wherein they are coplanar with each other with the free edges thereof abutting, the folded flaps 133 overlying the flaps 132 in back-to-back engagement therewith. Preferably, the folded flaps 133 are secured to the outer surface of the front inner panel 130 as by face gluing and the abutting edges of the flaps 133 are secured together as by gluing to form a seam 124, the coplanar flaps 133 thereby forming a front outer panel 131 cooperating with the front inner panel 130 to form the front wall 113 of the closed housing 115. In this folded configuration, the recesses 139 of the flaps 133 mate to form a circular opening in the front outer panel 131 which is congruent with the corresponding opening in the front inner panel 130, and cooperates therewith to form a loudspeaker opening 119 in the front wall 113 of the housing 115.

In like manner, the rear flaps 136 are folded inwardly in use to a position wherein the flaps 136 are coplanar with each other with the free edges thereof abutting. These abutting free edges are joined together as by gluing to form a seam 128, the coplanar flaps 136 thereby forming a rear inner panel closing the rear end of the tubular member 120. In this folded configuration, the semi-circular recesses 138 mate to define a small circular opening through the rear inner panel 134. The flaps 137 are then folded inwardly to a position wherein the flaps 137 are coplanar with each other and overlie the rear inner panel 134 in back-to-back engagement therewith. Preferably, the rear flaps 137 are secured to the outer surface of the rear inner panel 134 as by face gluing, the flaps 137 being secured together along the free edges thereof to form a seam 129, the coplanar flaps 137 thereby forming a rear outer panel 135 which cooperates with the rear inner panel 134 to form the rear wall 114 of the closed housing 115. In this folded configuration, the recesses 138 in the flaps 137 mate to form a small circular opening through the rear outer panel 135 which is congruent with the corresponding opening in the rear inner panel 134 and cooperates therewith to form a connector opening 118 in the rear wall 114 of the housing 115.

It will be noted that when the inner tubular member 120 has the flaps thereof disposed in the folded configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, the corrugations of the front inner panel 130 extend vertically while the corrugations of the front outer panel 131 extend horizontally. In like manner, the corrugations of the rear inner panel 134 extend vertically, while the corrugations of the rear outer panel 135 extend horizontally. Thus, it will be appreciated that each of the

front walls

113 and 114 of the closed housing 115 comprises two panels of corrugated material having the corrugations thereof disposed perpendicular to eachother to thereby provide a criss-cross pattern of corrugations to facilitate the suppression of undesirable sound waves by the front and

rear walls

113 and 114.

The outer tubular member 140 is also formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated paperboard folded to form an open-ended tube substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section. More particularly, the outer tubular member 140 includes a top panel 141, a bottom panel 142, and a pair of

opposed side panels

146 and 147, with opposite side edges of the corrugated sheet being joined together, as by a suitable adhesive such as glue, to form a seam 145 extending longitudinally of the outer tubular member 140 substantially centrally of the bottom panel 142 thereof. The corrugations of the outer tubular member 140 are arranged to extend in directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, as indicated by the double-ended arrows in FIG. 7.

In assembling the closed housing 115 of the loudspeaker enclosure 110, the inner tubular member may be folded to the cubical configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, as was described above, and inserted within the outer tubular member 140 which is dimensioned to receive the inner tubular member 120 therein in a snug sliding fit. When the

tubular members

120 and 140 are thus nested together in their assembled configuration, the top and

bottom panels

141 and 142 of the outer tubular member 140 will respectively be disposed in back-to-back engagement with the top and

bottom panels

121 and 122 of the inner tubular member 120 to form the top and bottom walls 111 and 112 of the closed housing 115. In like manner, the

opposed side panels

146 and 147 of the outer tubular member 140 will be disposed in back-to-back engagement with the

opposed side panels

126 and 127 of the inner tubular member 120, thereby to form the

side walls

116 and 117 of the closed housing 115. The back-toback panels of the inner and outer

tubular members

120 and 140 are secured together by any suitable means, preferably by face gluing, to provide a rigid unitary structure for the closed housing 115.

It will be noted that when the inner tubular member 120 is nested within the outer tubular member 140 in the manner described, the corrugations of the back-toback panels thereof will be disposed perpendicular to each other, whereby each of the top and bottom and

side walls

111, 112, 116 and 117 of the closed housing 115 comprises a criss-cross pattern of corrugations for facilitating the suppression of undesirable sound waves emitted from the closed housing 115. Thus, it will be appreciated that all six walls of the assembled closed housing 115 comprise back-to-back two-panel construction having the criss-cross pattern of corrugations, the panels of the front and rear walls 113 and l 14 being formed by the folded flaps of the inner tubular member 120, as was described above. It will be noted that the top and

bottom panels

141 and 142 and the

side panels

146 and 147 of the outer tubular member 140 are dimensioned to extend a predetermined distance forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear outer panels 131 and of the inner tubular member 120, and cooperate therewith to define a front recess 148 and a rear recess 149, when the tubular members 120 and are nested together in the assembled configuration, as indicated in FIG. 5.

There is also provided a substantially square loudspeaker-mounting or baffle board, generally designated by the numeral 150, having a front surface 152, a rear surface 153 and a peripheral side surface 154 and adapted to be received in the front recess 148 of the closed housing 115 substantially congruent with the front wall 113 thereof. The baffle board 150 is provided with a circular loudspeaker opening 151 therein which disposed in use coaxially with the loudspeaker opening 119 formed in the front wall 113 of the closed housing 115. However, the diameter of the opening 151 is less than the diameter of the opening in the front wall 113. A grille cloth 155 of sound-transmitting fabric material covers the front surface 152 of the baffle board 150, the grille cloth 155 preferably being stretched over the peripheral side surface 154 of the baffle board 150 and secured thereto by suitable means, whereby the grille cloth 155 conceals the speaker opening 151. While the baffle board 150 is preferably constructed of plywood, it will be appreciated that it may be constructed of other suitable materials such as those mentioned above with respect to the baffle board 50 of the loudspeaker enclosure 10.

There is also provided a substantially square rear cover panel 160 formed of corrugated board and adapted to be received in the rear recess 149 of the closed housing 115 for covering the rear wall 114 thereof, the rear cover panel 160 being secured to the rear wall 114 by any suitable means, such as face gluing. The rear cover panel 160 is provided with a small circular connector opening 168 therein, disposed in use in axial alignment with the connector opening 118 in the rear wall 114 of the closed housing 115.

Preferably, the top and bottom walls 111 and 112 and the

side walls

116 and 117 and the rear cover panel 160 of the loudspeaker enclosure 110 are covered by decorative facing of any desired material. More particularly, the rear surface of the rear cover panel 160 is covered by a decorative facing sheet 165 secured thereto by a suitable adhesive, while the outer surfaces of the top and bottom walls 111 and 112 and the

side walls

116 and 117 are all covered by a single continuous decorative facing sheet 166 with opposed side edges thereof joined together to form a seam, substantially along seam 145 in the bottom panel 142 of the other tubular member 140. The front and rear edges of the decorative facing sheet 166 are respectively wrapped around the overhanging front and rear margins of the

panels

141, 142, 146 and 147 of the outer tubular member 140 which define the front and

rear recesses

148 and 149, for completely covering these overhanging portions, as is best shown in FIG. 5. The decorative facing sheet 166 is secured to the outer tubular member 140 by suitable means such as face gluing. The

decorative facing sheets

165 and 166 are preferably formed of vinyl material, but may be formed of any other suitable material, such as those indicated above with respect to the

decorative facing sheets

65 and 66 of the loudspeaker enclosure 10.

A loudspeaker, generally designated by the numeral 170, is mounted within the loudspeaker enclosure 110. While the loudspeaker 170 may be of any desired type, for purposes of illustration a cone-type loudspeaker is shown, including an electromagnet structure 171 and a cone-shaped diaphragm 172 provided at the open end thereof with one or more mounting flanges 173 extending radially outwardly therefrom. In use, the mounting flanges 173 are secured to the inner surface 153 of the baffle board 150 by suitable adhesive or by any other desired means, such as screws, bolts, staples, clips and the like, with the diaphragm 172 disposed in axial alignement with the loudspeaker opening 151 in the baffle board 150 and extending rearwardly therefrom, as is more clearly shown in my aforementioned copending application, Ser. No. 222,263. When the baffle board 150 is mounted in the front recess 148, as described above, the loudspeaker diaphragm 172 will extend inwardly through the opening 119 in the front wall 113, whereby sound waves generated at the front surface of the diaphragm 172 will be radiated outwardly through the aligned

speaker openings

119 and 159 to the exterior of the loudspeaker enclosure 110, while sound waves generated at the rear surface of the diaphragm 172 will be transmitted into the closed housing 115. Alternative modes of mounting the loudspeaker within the closed housing 115, as described above with respect to the loudspeaker enclosure 10, may also be used for mounting the loudspeaker 170 in the loudspeaker enclosure 110. The electromagnet structure 171 of the loudspeaker 170 is connected by a conductor 174 to a suitable connector (not shown) mounted in the rear wall 114 of the loudspeaker enclosure 110, and'adapted to be connected to an associated source of electric signal power. The structure and mounting arrangement of a preferred embodiment of such a connector is disclosed in my aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 222,263.

While in the preferred embodiments of this invention, the

tubular members

20, 30, 40, and are constructed of paperboard or fiberboard for simplicity and economy of fabrication, it will be appreciated that other corrugated materials may be used to produce the same sound deadening effect, as long as the adjacent layers of corrugated material have the corrugations thereof disposed at right angles to each other.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a novel loudspeaker enclosure simply constructed of economical materials, and comprising a closed housing of corrugated material having a crisscross pattern of corrugations in each of the housing walls for suppressing undesirable sound waves emitted from the enclosure, the enclosure providing superior acoustical characteristics while having improved structural strength which insures the integrity of the junctures between adjacent walls of the housing.

More particularly, there has been provided a novel loudspeaker enclosure with a plurality of rectangular tubes of corrugated paperboard nested together in an assembled configuration, each of the tubes being formed of a single continuous sheet of corrugated material folded into a rectangular tubular configuration and having opposed free edges thereof joined together to form a longitudinal seam, the seams of each of the tubular members being disposed centrally of one of the rectangular panels thereof.

In addition, there has been provided a loudspeaker enclosure constructed of two tubular members of square transverse cross-section, the inner tubular member having rectangular flaps at the opposite ends of each of the four side panels thereof, the flaps being disposed in use in a folded configuration defining front and rear end walls for the inner tubular member, each of these end walls comprising two back-to-back end panels having the corrugations thereof disposed perpendicular to each other.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugation of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear wall thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, whereby the perpendicular corrugations in each of said walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said wall of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

2. A loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall for mounting an associated loudspeaker thereon, and a rear cover panel disposed in said rear recess and secured to said rear wall, whereby the perpendicular corrugations in each of said walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said wall of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

3. A loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the

- corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall for mounting an associated loudspeaker thereon, a rear cover panel disposed in said rear recess and secured to said rear wall, a sound-transmitting fabric screen secured to said loudspeaker-mounting board and covering the outer surface thereof for concealing the opening therein, and a decorative facing secured to said top and bottom and side walls and said rear cover panel and covering the outer surfaces thereof, whereby the perpendicular corrugations in each of said walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

4. A sound reproduction system comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall, and a loudspeaker including a cone-shaped diaphragm and having-a mounting flange extending radially outwardly therefrom at the open end thereof and secured to the rear surface of said loudspeaker mounting board, said loudspeaker being disposed in use within said housing in axial alignment with said openings for transmitting therethrough to the exterior of said housing sound waves generaged at the front surface of the diaphragm and for transmitting into said housing sound waves generated at the rear surface of said housing, whereby the perpendicular corrugations of each of said housing walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

5. A sound reproduction system comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall, a loudspeaker including a cone-shaped diaphragm and having a mounting flange extending radially outwardly therefrom at the open end thereof and secured to the rear surface of said loudspeakermounting board, said loudspeaker being disposed in use within said housing in axial alignment with said openings for transmitting therethrough to the exterior of said housing sound waves generated at the front surface of the diaphragm and for transmitting into said housing sound waves generated at the rear surface of said housing, a rear cover panel disposed in said rear recess and secured to said rear wall, a soundtransmitting fabric screen secured to said loudspeakermounting board and covering the outer surface thereof for concealing the opening therein, and a decorative facing secured to said top and bottom and side walls and said rear cover panel and covering the outer surfaces thereof, whereby the perpendicular corrugations of each of said housing walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

Claims

1. A loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitAte the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugation of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear wall thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, whereby the perpendicular corrugations in each of said walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said wall of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

3. A loudspeaker enclosure comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall for mounting an associated loudspeaker thereon, a rear cover panel disposed in said rear recess and secured to said rear wall, a sound-transmitting fabric screen secured to said loudspeaker-mounting board and covering the outer surface thereof for concealing the opening therein, and a decorative facing secured to said top and bottom and side walls and said rear cover panel and covering the outer surfaces thereof, whereby the perpendicular corrugations In each of said walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

4. A sound reproduction system comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall, and a loudspeaker including a cone-shaped diaphragm and having a mounting flange extending radially outwardly therefrom at the open end thereof and secured to the rear surface of said loudspeaker mounting board, said loudspeaker being disposed in use within said housing in axial alignment with said openings for transmitting therethrough to the exterior of said housing sound waves generaged at the front surface of the diaphragm and for transmitting into said housing sound waves generated at the rear surface of said housing, whereby the perpendicular corrugations of each of said housing walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.

5. A sound reproduction system comprising a plurality of continuous sheets of corrugated material constructed and arranged to define a closed housing including a top wall and a bottom wall and a front wall and a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate the emission of sound waves therefrom, each of said walls being formed of overlying sections of said sheets of corrugated material and including at least two layers of corrugations, the corrugations of each said layer in a wall extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the corrugations of adjacent layers in said wall, each of said sheets having the opposite side edges thereof joined together to form a seam disposed substantially centrally of one of said walls, at least one layer of corrugation of said top and bottom and side walls of said housing extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the front and rear walls thereof and cooperating therewith to form a front recess and a rear recess, a loudspeaker-mounting board disposed in said front recess and secured to said front wall and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said front wall, a loudspeaker including a cone-shaped diaphragm and having a mounting flange extending radially outwardly therefrom at the open end thereof and secured to the rear surface of said loudspeaker-mounting board, said loudspeaker being disposed in use within said housing in axial alignment with said openings for transmitting therethrough to the exterior of said housing sound waves generated at the front surface of the diaphragm and for transmitting into said housing sound waves generated at the rear surface of said housing, a rear cover panel disposed in said rear recess and secured to said rear wall, a sound-transmitting fabric screen secured to said loudspeaker-mounting board and covering the outer surface thereof for concealing the opening therein, and a decorative facing secured to said toP and bottom and side walls and said rear cover panel and covering the outer surfaces thereof, whereby the perpendicular corrugations of each of said housing walls cooperate to facilitate the suppression by said walls of undesirable sound waves emitted from said housing.