WO2011067083A1

WO2011067083A1 - Supporting assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2011067083A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/067212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Silvio Drei
Original assignee: Drei S.N.C. Di Drei Silvio & C.
Priority date: 2009-12-04
Filing date: 2010-11-10
Publication date: 2011-06-09
Also published as: ITBO20090783A1

Abstract

A supporting assembly (1), which comprises at least one supporting pole (2) for an element (E); the base (2a) of the pole (2) is associable with a seat (S) formed on a footing (B). The supporting pole (2) is associated, at its base (2a), with a portion (3) that can move in a radial direction and is interposed between an end shoulder (4) and a slider (5), which can slide axially by way of the action of the operator along the pole (2) and is provided with a tip (6) adapted to interfere mechanically with the movable portion (3), moving it radially in a centrifugal direction until it rests against a part of the internal surface of the seat (S), with consequent locking of the assembly (1) in the seat (S).

Description

SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY

Technical field

The present invention relates to a supporting assembly.

Background Art

As is known, the term "speaker" refers to a transducer or a set of transducers that convert the electrical signal that arrives from an audio amplifier into sound.

Although speakers with various concepts and according to different construction technologies have been manufactured over the years and with the development of technology, the most widely adopted constructive solution is the one that uses speakers constituted by a box-like cabinet with one of the faces used to accommodate the speaker drivers.

The placement of these speakers is particularly important in order to ensure optimum listening to the emitted sound.

In greater detail, in stadiums, theatres, arenas and the like it is necessary to place the speakers along the perimeter of the areas intended for the audience (and directed toward this audience) according to a predefined distribution and often in a raised position.

Precisely to allow installation and placement even at a height of several meters, the cabinet is supported in a downward region by a typically metal pole, which can be as much as several metres long; in turn, the base of the pole is coupled, by means of a flange and a threaded connection, to the top of a supporting footing (which in some cases can be constituted by a subwoofer, a type of speaker driver adapted for reproducing iower- frequency sounds) which rests on the ground.

After fixing the pole to the footing, stage hands can anchor the speaker to the top of the pole (whose dimensions correspond to the height at which the speaker must work).

Similar constructive solutions are used for the installation and support of spotlights and other lighting devices (which in this case are typically orientated toward the stage and, again, are arranged according to precise distributions and at appropriate heights) on respective supporting footings.

This solution, however, is not free from drawbacks.

It is in fact important to note that speakers typically have considerable dimensions and especially considerable weight: the need to hoist them to the top of the supporting pole therefore requires considerable effort from stage hands and in any case at least two stage hands are required for the fixing operations.

Moreover, the connection between the pole and the supporting footing provides for the insertion of the end of the pole in a respective cavity of the footing, designed to accommodate it, and this offers no coupling margin during installation as regards the orientation of the pole (the pole, being inserted with play in the cavity, can rotate freely therein; if the coupling is conical, rotation is locked but orientation then becomes complicated, since it is necessary to lift the pole and the structure mounted thereon with respect to the footing).

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, by providing an assembly that allows the simple and easy installation of the elements supported thereby.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a supporting assembly that allows the installation of the supported element with an orientation chosen at will.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting assembly that ensures high reliability in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting assembly that can be implemented easily starting from elements and materials that are easily sourced on the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting assembly that is of low cost and safely applied. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a supporting assembly, comprising at least one supporting pole for an element, the base of said pole being capable of being associated with a seat formed on a footing, characterized in that said supporting pole is associated, at its base, with a portion that can move in a radial direction and is interposed between an end shoulder and a slider, which can slide axially by virtue of the action of the operator along said pole and is provided with a tip adapted to interfere mechanically with said movable portion, moving it radially in a centrifugal direction until it rests against a part of the internal surface of said seat, with consequent locking of the assembly in said seat.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, taken along a vertical plane that passes through the axis of symmetry, of a first embodiment of a supporting assembly according to the invention in the tightening configuration;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along a vertical plane that passes through the axis of symmetry, of the supporting assembly of Figure 1 in the open configuration;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the supporting assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the supporting assembly of Figure 1 in the assembled configuration;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along a transverse plane, of a second embodiment of a supporting assembly according to the invention in the open configuration;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along a transverse plane, of the supporting assembly of Figure 5 in the locking configuration;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a speaker mounted on a respective footing by means of a supporting assembly according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a front elevation view of a speaker mounted on a respective footing by virtue of a supporting assembly according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken along a vertical plane that passes through the axis of symmetry, of the supporting assembly of Figure 5 in the tightening configuration;

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken along a vertical plane that passes through the axis of symmetry, of the supporting assembly of Figure 5 in the open configuration;

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the supporting assembly of Figure 5;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the supporting assembly of Figure

5 in the assembled configuration.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, a supporting assembly according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises at least one supporting pole 2 for an element, such as a speaker, a lighting apparatus and the like.

It should be noted from this point onward that a preferred application of the present invention is the use of the assembly 1 for supporting speakers

(or spotlights and other lighting apparatuses) designed for use in stadiums, theatres, arenas and the like. Reference shall be made, therefore, to this preferred application hereinafter, but different uses of the assembly I, aimed for example at supporting other types of active element and/or elements intended for uses in different environments, are not excluded if the specific applicative requirements allow it.

The base 2a of the pole 2 can be associated with a seat S, which is formed on a footing B, which rests on the ground: according to the preferred application, the footing B is also a unit which is adapted to reproduce sound and more precisely is a subwoofer. On the upper face of the subwoofer (which typically has a box-like shape) there is, therefore, the seat S designed to accommodate the pole 2, which in turn supports the speaker.

In any case, the possibility is not excluded, and is also within the scope of protection claimed herein, of associating the pole 2 with seats S formed in different types of footing B.

The supporting pole 2 is associated, at its base 2a, with a portion 3 that can move in a radial direction and is interposed between an end shoulder 4 and a slider 5, which can slide axially by virtue of the action of the operator along the pole 2.

The slider 5 is provided with a tip 6, which is adapted to interfere mechanically with the movable portion 3 : this interference produces a radial movement, in a centrifugal direction, of the portion 3, until it rests against a part of the internal surface of the seat S with consequent locking of the assembly 1 in the seat S.

The assembly 1 according to the invention, in a particularly effective embodiment thereof, comprises a bushing 7, which is adapted to stably engage in the internal cavity 8 of the pole 2 at its base 2a.

The bushing 7 is provided with a threaded cuff 9 for the engagement of a respective threaded ring 10: the ring 10 has a female thread at its through internal channel and the cuff 9 can be screwed onto the female thread of the ring 10.

The bushing 7 is further provided with a stem 1 1 which has a reduced diameter for the coupling, in the cited order, of the slider 5, of the movable portion 3 and of the end shoulder 4.

It should be noted that the stem 11 , although it has been described as being preferably jointly connected to the bushing 7, can also be associated with other components (such as for example with the shoulder 4 according to one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures): these further constructive configurations have no effect in terms of the operation of the assembly 1 and therefore are to be considered in practice as being totally equivalent to the one described.

In this assembled configuration, the axial movements of the ring 10, caused by the rotation imparted by an operator (screwing of the ring 10), cause the abutment of the tip 6 of the slider 5 against the movable portion 3 and its consequent movement in a centrifugal radial direction.

It is not necessary to specify that, by increasing the width of the assembly 1 as a consequence of the tightening of the ring 10 (the movement of the portion 10 in a centrifugal radial direction with respect to the bushing 7 entails an increase in the width of the assembly 1), if it has been inserted beforehand in the seat S, one achieves a locking of the assembly 1 in the seat S that increases in strength as the tightening imposed on the ring 10 increases. Moreover, the extreme simplicity with which this type of locking is achieved allows the pole 2 on which the assembly 1 has been installed to be assembled by even a single operator, so obtaining excellent stability of the coupling between the assembly 1 and the seat S.

In order to achieve optimum action with respect to the portion 3 that faces it, the tip 6 is preferably frustum-shaped: the progressive insertion of the conical tip 6 in the axial channel of the movable portion 3 causes its movement in a centrifugal radial direction.

Conveniently, it is noted that it is possible to provide an assembly 1 in which the end shoulder 4, too, comprises a corresponding frustum-shaped tip 12.

In this case, the tightening of the ring 10 causes the mutual approach of the tip 6 of the slider 5 to the tip 12 of the shoulder 4 and their progressive insertion in the axial channel of the portion 3.

This operation causes a movement, in a centrifugal radial direction, of the movable portion 3, keeping it substantially with the optimum alignment, since the action is applied on both of its ends by the tips 6 and 12.

According to an embodiment of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the movable portion 3 is a tubular body, constituted by a plurality of sectors 13 which are distinct and mutually coupled by means of at least one elastic element 14 according to the tubular arrangement.

It is noted that from an implementation point of view the sectors 13 can conveniently have perimetric grooves 15 which are adapted to accommodate respective elastic elements 14, which in this case are preferably constituted by rings made of elastomeric material of the type used in commercial O-rings.

The adoption of elastic elements 14 constituted by metallic rings of the single-wire torsion spring type, preferably made of stainless steel or other metallic material that is scarcely subject to corrosion and oxidation if exposed to the open air, is not excluded.

In this case, the progressive insertion of the tips 6 and 12 in the axial channel of the portion 3 causes a mutual spacing of the sectors 1 1 and a consequent centrifugal radial expansion of the portion 3, constituted by the sectors 13, until it is locked completely in the seat S. This first embodiment therefore provides for an overall widening in a radial direction of the portion 3: preferably, the achievement of excellent technical results by using three sectors having a similar shape and dimensions in order to provide the portion 3 is noted.

It is stressed that the sectors 13 can preferably delimit and contain a bush 16 at a centreline slot 17 thereof.

According to this embodiment, respective axially-acting elastic means

18 and 18a are interposed between the tip 6 and the bush 16 and between the tip 12 and the bush 16 in order to facilitate the mutual spacing of the slider 5 and the shoulder 4 when the ring 10 is unscrewed.

Moreover, in this embodiment the axially-acting elastic means 18 and 18a have a different elasticity coefficient: the elastic means 18 interposed between the tip 6 and the bush 16 preferably has a higher elasticity coefficient than the elastic means 18a interposed between the tip 12 and the bush 16. This facilitates the operations for locking and releasing the assembly 1 in the seat S.

According to an alternative embodiment to the one described previously, the movable portion 3 is instead constituted by a tubular body provided with a longitudinal through channel which is axially offset with respect to the geometric axis of the tubular body.

In practice, the channel is substantially eccentric.

The progressive insertion of the tips 6 and 12 in the longitudinal channel of the portion 3 causes a lateral movement of the portion 3 due to the alignment of the axis of the channel with the axis of the tips 6 and 12 (which coincides with the axis of the pole 2), an alignment which is forced by their tapered shape, until a region of the portion 3 rests on a part of the internal surface of the seat S. At least one respective edge 19 of the end shoulder 4 instead rests by forcing on the opposite side of the seat S, with consequent locking of the portion 3 in the seat S.

It is appropriate to note that a disc 20 is interposed between the ring 10 and the slider 5 and is designed for the best distribution of the thrust of the ring 10 on the slider 5 when the ring 10 is screwed tighter.

Advantageously, the assembly 1 according to the invention thus allows simple and easy installation of the elements E that it supports.

Positively, the supporting assembly 1 according to the invention allows the installation of the supported element E according to an orientation chosen at will.

Conveniently, the supporting assembly 1 according to the invention ensures high reliability in operation.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other, technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2009A000783 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A supporting assembly, comprising at least one supporting pole (2) for an element (E), a base (2a) of said pole (2) being associable with a seat

(5) formed on a footing (B), characterized in that said supporting pole (2) is associated, at its base (2a), with a portion (3) that can move in a radial direction and is interposed between an end shoulder (4) and a slider (5), which can slide axially by virtue of the action of the operator along said pole (2) and is provided with a tip (6) adapted to interfere mechanically with said movable portion (3), moving it radially in a centrifugal direction until it rests against a part of the internal surface of said seat (S), with consequent locking of the assembly (1) in said seat (S).

2. The supporting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a bushing (7) which is adapted to engage stably in the internal cavity (8) of said pole (2) at its base (2a), said bushing (7) being provided with a threaded cuff (9) for the engagement of a respective threaded ring (10), of a stem (1 1) with a reduced diameter for the coupling, in the cited order, of said slider (5), of said movable portion (3) and of said end shoulder (4), the axial movements of said ring (10), caused by the rotation imparted by an operator, producing the abutment of said tip (6) of said slider (5) against said movable portion (3) and its consequent movement in a centrifugal radial direction.

3. The supporting assembly according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said tip (6) is frustum-shaped, the progressive insertion of the conical tip (6) in the axial channel of said movable portion (3) causing its movement in a centrifugal radial direction.

4. The supporting assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said end shoulder (4) also comprises a corresponding frustum- shaped tip (12), the tightening of said ring (10) causing the mutual approach of the tip

(6) of the slider (5) to the tip (12) of the shoulder (4) and their progressive insertion in the axial channel of the portion (3), with consequent movement in a centrifugal radial direction of said movable portion (3), substantially maintaining its optimum alignment.

5. The supporting assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movable portion (3) is a tubular body constituted by a plurality of distinct sectors (13) which are mutually coupled by means of at least one elastic element (14) according to said tubular arrangement, the progressive insertion of said tips (6, 12) in the axial channel of the portion (3) causing a mutual spacing of said sectors (13) and a consequent centrifugal radial expansion of the portion (3) constituted by said sectors (13) until it is locked completely in the seat (S).

6. The supporting assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said sectors (13) delimit and contain a bush (16) at a centreline slot (17) thereof, respective axially-acting elastic means (18, 18a) being interposed between said tip (6) and said bush (16) and between said tip (12) and said bush (16) in order to facilitate the mutual spacing of the slider (5) and of the shoulder (4) upon an unscrewing of the ring (10).

7. The supporting assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said axially-acting elastic means (18, 18a) have a different elasticity coefficient, the elastic means (18) interposed between said tip (6) and said bush (16) having a lower elasticity coefficient than the elastic means (18a) interposed between said tip (12) and said bush (16).

8. The supporting assembly according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said movable portion (3) is a tubular body provided with a longitudinal through channel which is axially offset with respect to the geometric axis of said tubular body, said channel being substantially eccentric, the progressive insertion of said tips (6, 12) in the axial channel of the portion (3) producing therefore a lateral movement of said portion (3) due to the alignment of the axis of the channel with the axis of the tips (6, 12) imposed by their tapered shape until contact occurs against a part of the internal surface of said seat (S), at least one respective edge (19) of said end shoulder (4) resting by forcing against the opposite part of said seat (S), with consequent locking of the portion (3) in the seat (S),

9. The supporting assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a disc (20) is interposed between said ring (10) and said slider (5) and is designed for the best distribution of the thrust of said ring (10) on said slider (5) upon screwing said ring (10).