Vibration isolator and connecting rod

Abstract

The invention relates to a vibration isolator and connecting rods, wherein the vibration isolator comprises a base, a housing extending from the base, the housing having an aperture substantially opposite the base, a connecting arm having one end within the housing, the connecting arm having means for connecting to another structure, a plurality of connecting rods, each connecting rod being pivotally connected at one end or adjacent one end to the housing and pivotally connected at the other end or adjacent the other end to the connecting arm, the connection between each connecting rod and the connecting arm being closer to the base than the connection between each connecting rod and the housing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration isolator and a connecting rod, particularly suitable for, but not limited to, use in decoupling vibrations generated in a loudspeaker system such as a high fidelity loudspeaker. BACKGROUND

[0002] In this document, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", are not necessarily limited to cases where there is an inclusion of the features, integers, or steps referred to. Use of such words is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that there can be additional features, integers or steps not expressly mentioned or inherent to the described implementations.

[0003] In this document, discussion of any text, activity, material, device, article or the like which has formed prior art to the disclosure herein is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material so discussed was published, known, or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims described herein.

[0004] In a loudspeaker system such as a high fidelity system, once the loudspeaker is playing sound such as music, various vibrational movements are generated, for example horizontal vibrations caused by the movement of the driver of the loudspeaker. These movements also cause the surface material of the loudspeaker cabinet to vibrate and resonate, and vertical vibrations to be reflected between the loudspeaker and the supporting surface on which the loudspeaker is located. The combination of these vibrations can cause substantial distortion to the purity of the sound which is the aim of a high fidelity system. Similar problems can arise in other situations and these effects are disadvantageous. SUMMARY

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vibration isolator and / or a connecting rod which can eliminate or minimise the above-mentioned disadvantageous effects, or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, broadly speaking, there is provided a connecting rod comprising a swing arm having a first recess or aperture which houses a first bearing and a second recess or aperture which houses a second bearing, each bearing having an attachment means such that, in use, the first bearing can be attached to a first structure and the second bearing can be attached to a second structure, thereby allowing each structure to be substantially independent of the other structure over at least a distance, the recess or aperture having an inward facing surface and the bearing having an outward facing surface, the inward facing surface of the recess or aperture and the outward facing surface of the bearing being substantially arcuate.

[0007] Preferably, the radius of curvature of each arcuate shape is substantially the same.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present application, broadly speaking, there is provided a vibration isolator comprising: a base; a housing extending from the base, the housing having an aperture substantially opposite the base; a connecting arm having one end within the housing, the connecting arm having means to connect to another structure; and a plurality of connecting rods, each connecting rod being pivotally connected at one end or adjacent one end thereof to the housing and being pivotally connected at the other end or adjacent the other end thereof to the connecting arm, the connection between each connecting rod and the connecting arm being closer to the base than the connection between each connecting rod and the housing.

[0009] Preferably, the connection between each connecting rod and the housing is adjacent the aperture in the housing.

[0010] Preferably, the connection between each connecting rod and the housing and the connection between each connecting rod and the connecting arm allow for pivotal movement in the plane of the connecting rod and rotational movement about the axis of the connecting rod.

[0011] Preferably, three connecting rods are provided, which are spaced substantially equally about the housing.

[0012] Preferably, the base is connected to the housing in a manner which allows for adjustment between the base and the housing.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting arm extends outwardly through the aperture in the housing.

[0014] According to yet another aspect of the present application, broadly speaking, a vibration isolator as hereinbefore described is mounted between a loudspeaker and a support surface.

[0015] The present application can also be understood to consist of the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of this application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements and features, and where specific integers are mentioned in this specification and dependencies are claimed, these are understood to be optional, such that any specific integer can be replaced by another specific integer which serves the same purpose.

[0016] The present application includes the foregoing as well as what is given in the following examples which can be inferred. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Embodiments of the present application will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a vibration isolator according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the vibration isolator as Figure 1 shown in Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 3is a plan view of a vibration isolator according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 is a section view "A-A" of the vibration isolator in Figure 3

[0022] Figure 5 are two partial exploded views of a vibration isolator according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 6 are a plan view, an isometric view and a side view of a part of a vibration isolator according to the present application, respectively, showing the movement of the part in dashed outline;

[0024] Figure 7 is an isometric view of another vibration isolator according to another preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 8 is a plan view of a vibration isolator in Figure 7

[0026] Figure 9 is a section view "A-A" of the vibration isolator in Figure 8

[0027] Figure 10 is a side view of a vibration isolator in Figure 7

[0028] Figure 11 is a section view "B-B" of Figure 10

[0029] Figure 12 is an isometric view of a vibration isolator in Figure 7

[0030] Figure 13 is a partial exploded isometric view of a vibration isolator in Figure 7

[0031] Figure 14 is an exploded view of a vibration isolator in Figure 7

[0032] Figure 15 is an isometric view of a computer / bookshelf speaker platform according to another preferred embodiment of the present application, showing a schematic computer / bookshelf speaker in dashed outline;

[0033] Figure 16 is an isometric view of a computer / bookshelf speaker platform in Figure 15

[0034] Figure 17 is​​​​​​​​​Figure 15 Figure 1 is a plan view of a computer / shelf speaker platform according to the present application;

[0035] Figure 18 Figure 2 is a section view "A-A" of Figure 1 ; Figure 17

[0036] Figure 19 Figure 3 is a section view "B-B" of Figure 1 ; Figure 17

[0037] Figure 20 Figure 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of a computer / shelf speaker platform according to the present application; Figure 15

[0038] Figure 21 Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a computer / shelf speaker platform according to the present application; Figure 15

[0039] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a shock isolator according to the present application in use; Figure 22 Figure 1 Figure 7 is a plan view of an audio speaker isolation device using a shock isolator according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 23 Figure 8 is a front view of an audio speaker isolation device according to the present application in use.

[0041] Figure 24 Figure 23 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the following description, when terms such as upper and lower or similar are used, they relate to the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0043] Referring to the drawings, a shock isolator 1 is provided. The shock isolator 1 can be used with at least four different product types: a speaker decoupling foot, an audio assembly foot, a computer / shelf speaker platform and an audio stand.

[0044] The shock isolator 1 has a base 2 which is preferably made of a resilient material such as rubber or a similar plastic material to reduce the likelihood of the base slipping on the material it is placed on.

[0045] A housing 3 is attached to the base 2. The housing 3 is attached to the base 2 by an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism comprises a ring 4 which has threads on its inner facing surface. The ring 4 is engaged with the housing 3 by two semi-circular ring members 5 which engage under a lip 6 (shown in Figure 5) of the ring 4 and are secured to the housing 3 by a screw 7 which passes completely through a hole 8 in the ring 4. Thus, the ring 4 is held on the housing 3 but is free to rotate relative to the housing 3. Figure 4

[0046] ​​​​​​​A ring 10 is provided which has a thread on its outer surface which mates with the thread on ring 4. Ring 10 is held from rotating (as described below) so that rotation of ring 4 will cause ring 10 to extend or retract relative to housing 3 depending on the direction of rotation of ring 4.

[0047] Base 2 can be connected to ring 10 in any desired manner, for example by adhesive.

[0048] Housing 3 is provided at the end opposite base 2 with a hole 15. Hole 15 has inwardly extending protrusions, for example three protrusions 16 with recesses 17 between them. A guide 18 is also provided which is secured to housing 3 by a screw 19 which passes through a stepped hole 20 and engages into a threaded recess in the end of guide 18. The other end of guide 18 is a protrusion 22 which engages in a slot 23 in the inner surface of ring 10. Protrusion 22 is able to move longitudinally in slot 23 but the positioning of protrusion 22 within slot 23 prevents rotational movement of disc 21 relative to ring 10 and hence prevents rotational movement of ring 10 relative to housing 3. The upper end 25 of guide 18 is provided with a threaded recess.

[0049] A connecting arm 27 is also provided which is provided at one end within housing 3 and at the other end extends out through hole 15 to enable connecting arm 27 to be coupled to a connection such as a high fidelity speaker.

[0050] Connecting arm 27 can be constructed in the following manner. Within housing 3 is provided a central pivoting member 28 which has a plurality of joints 29, for example three joints 29 which extend outwardly substantially equally spaced. Within recess 17 in housing 3 is provided a similar joint 30.

[0051] In the other end of member 28 is formed a recess of circular cross section in which is placed an isolating member 35 in the form of a tubular member. Within member 35 is another, shorter member 36. Members 36, 35 are made of a softer, cushioning material. Members 35 and 36 are held in place by a support member 37 which is positioned within member 33 and rests on the end of member 36. Support member 37 is held in place by a washer 38 and a circlip 39 which are both placed on the end of member 35 and sit in recesses in member 37. Circlip 39 is also clipped within a circlip slot in the inner wall of member 33. This leaves members 35 and 37 in engagement with member 33.

[0052] Also provided on connecting arm 27 is a bolt 40 to enable connecting arm to be coupled in use to a structure such as a high fidelity speaker connection (not shown). Bolt 40 has a longitudinal stepped hole through which passes a bolt 43 to secure in a threaded recess in 37.

[0053] A connecting rod is provided between the connecting arm 27 and the housing 3. In brief, each connecting rod comprises a swing arm, each end of which is provided with a hole. One end of each connecting rod is connected to the connecting arm 27 and the other end is connected to the housing 3.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the application, three connecting rods 45 are provided. Each connecting rod 45 comprises a swing arm 46, each end of which is provided with a recessed or stepped hole 47. A bearing 48 is mounted in each hole 47, the outwardly facing surface 49 of which is arcuate. In the case where the bearing 48 contacts the stepped hole, the shape of the contact surface is preferably matched to the arcuate surface 49. The bearing 48 is held in place by a circlip 50, a stepped washer 51 and a screw or bolt 52 which passes through the stepped washer 51, the circlip 50 and the bearing 48 into a threaded recess in the joint 29 or 30 which receives it. The effect of this is that the connecting rod can swing on each joint 29 and 30 and, due to the arcuate surface 49, can also be tilted. This provides a greater range of movement for the connecting rod relative to the connecting arm 27 and the housing 3. It also means that the connecting arm 27 has a wider range of movement relative to the housing 3. These degrees of freedom of the central member 28 can improve the sound dynamics from a loudspeaker.

[0055] In use, the connecting bolt 40 is connected to a structure such as a loudspeaker and the base 2 is placed on a support surface. There can be any suitable number of vibration isolators according to the application used to support the structure, but typically there will be three or four. The ring 4 can be rotated if necessary to adjust the level in the event that the support surface is not level.

[0056] When vibrations occur in the supported structure, these are damped or at least reduced by the relative movement between the connecting arm 27 and the housing 3.

[0057] Reference Figure 6 Each connecting rod 45 can move within the range shown by the dotted lines. Consider the case where three arms are used and, with the stepped hole 47 facing inwards and the arcuate surface on the outwardly facing surface of the bearing 48, the swing arm 46 can swing in any direction.

[0058] In Figure 7 , there is provided a further vibration isolator 60 which is a simplified version of the vibration isolator 1 shown. Figures 1 to 6 The vibration isolator 60 has a base portion 61 and a cover portion or housing portion 62. A mechanism is provided to allow one of the base portion 61 and the cover portion 62 to rotate relative to the other so that the vibration isolator 60 can be extended or retracted. In the embodiment shown, the cover portion 63 is provided with finger grips 64 around its outwardly facing surface.

[0059] Within the base portion 61 and the cover portion 62 is provided a member 65 having a plurality, preferably three, outwardly extending joints 66. The joints 66 are equally spaced. The member 65 is located within an annular member 67 which has three inwardly extending projections 68 and three inwardly extending joints 69. As in the previous embodiment, the connecting rods 70 are provided with opposed stepped apertures 71 and 72, each of which receives a bearing 73 which is held in place by a circlip 74 which can "snap" into a groove on the inwardly facing surface of the aperture 71 or 72. Each of the joints 66 or 69 has a central threaded recess 76 which enables a screw 75 to pass through the bearing 73 to be retained in the threaded recess 76. Thus, each of the connecting rods 70 can swing freely on the joints 66 and 69. The projections 68 are inwardly and downwardly inclined.

[0060] The base portion 61 is also substantially annular and has an inwardly projecting boss 80. The inwardly projecting boss 80 cooperates with the inwardly projecting boss 68 on the member 67. The underside of the boss 68 has a threaded recess 81 and the boss 80 is provided with an aperture 82 so that a bolt 83 can pass through the aperture 82 and be secured into the recess 81. The boss 80 also carries a pin 84 which is located in an aperture 85 in the boss 68.

[0061] The member 67 also has a circumferential groove 90 on the outwardly facing surface into which an "O" ring 91 is located.

[0062] A cap member 95 is provided which is threaded and has external threads at an outer surface 96. The cap member 95 has three cut-outs 97 for receiving the upper ends of the connecting rods 70 in use. The threads 96 engage with internal threads 100 on an outer cover member 101 which has the finger grip 64.

[0063] The member 65 has three upstanding ridges 102 at its upper end and the outer cover member 101 has downwardly depending appendage joints 103 which are apertured in the centre and threaded to receive bolts 104 to locate the members 65 and 101 but allow them to rotate thereon. A washer 105 and a stop 106 are also provided which pass into a slot in the joint 103. The members 65 and 95 are secured together by a bolt 107 which can be inserted through an aperture 108 in the outer cover member 101. The head of the bolt 107 locates in a recess in the member 95 and engages in a threaded recess 109 in the member 65.

[0064] The cover plate 62 engages with the outer cover member 101 by engaging into a rebate 111 in the outer cover member 101.

[0065] Similarly, a bottom cover plate 112 which is preferably made of "non-slip" rubber or plastics material engages into a rebate 113 in which the base portion stands.

[0066] As with the previous embodiment, the use of this embodiment of the application is to decouple two structures, but to allow a vibration isolator to be placed on one structure and receive another thereon. It is envisaged that three or four such vibration isolators in accordance with the form of the application can be used in general.

[0067] Figures 16 to 21 A further embodiment of the application is shown. This embodiment allows a loudspeaker or other device such as a computer / bookshelf loudspeaker to be placed on a plinth and still remain isolated from the structure on which the loudspeaker or other device will be placed.

[0068] A device 120 can be placed on the plinth 121. The plinth 121 comprises a base 122 and a movable upper plate 123. The base 122 can be formed from a perimeter upright member 124 and a floor 125. The floor 125 has a plurality of dowels 126. Figure 21 Eight are shown. The dowels 126 engage into receiving holes of corresponding members 127.

[0069] The upper plate 123 is connected to the perimeter member 124 in the following manner. A plurality of connecting rods 130 are provided, reference being made to Figure 21 There are six in total. The connecting rods will not be described in detail here as they are substantially similar to those described in the previous embodiment. The upper end of each connecting rod 130 is pivotally connected to a joint 131 extending from the perimeter member 124. The lower end of each connecting rod 130 is connected to the upper plate 123. This is achieved by a connecting arm 132 depending downwardly from the underside of the upper plate 123. The connecting arm 132 can be constructed as part of the upper plate 123 or as a separate arm fixed to the underside of the upper plate 123 as illustrated and described in the embodiment here. Thus, each connecting arm has a flange 133 on either side which can be bolted to the underside of the upper plate 123. The upper end of the connecting arm 132 is positioned in a recess 134 in the underside of the upper plate 123.

[0070] The connecting rods 130 are pivotally mounted on a joint 135 extending from the connecting arm 132. Thus, pivotal movement of the connecting arm 132, together with the arcuate surface of the bearing and the recess in which the bearing is located, allows the upper plate 123 to be substantially isolated from the base 122.

[0071] In use, in accordance with this embodiment, a device such as a loudspeaker can be placed on the upper plate 123 such that movement of the loudspeaker device is substantially isolated from the base 122.

[0072] Figure 22 A structure in use in accordance with the first embodiment of the application is shown. Four vibration isolators 1 are shown incorporated into the underside of a loudspeaker cabinet to provide substantial isolation between the loudspeaker cabinet and the support surface on which the vibration isolators are placed.

[0073] Figure 23 and Figure 24 Another alternative is shown which enables isolation between a device and a supporting surface. A substantially rigid plate 140 is provided on which a device 142 such as a speaker cabinet can be placed. A plurality of connecting arms 143 extend outwardly from the plate 140. Four such connecting arms are shown in the figure. Each connecting arm 143 is connected to a vibration isolator. In the illustration the vibration isolators are the vibration isolators described in the first embodiment herein.

[0074] In use, the vibration isolators 1 are attached to the rigid plate 140 and the height of each vibration isolator can be adjusted to achieve a stable platform. A device such as a speaker cabinet can then be placed on the rigid plate 140 whereby the structure provides substantial physical isolation from movement between the device 142 and the surface on which the vibration isolators 1 are placed in use.

[0075] Industrial applicability

[0076] The present invention is used to eliminate or reduce the transmission of vibrations in a speaker system or similar system to improve the quality of sound propagated into the environment.

[0077] Advantages

[0078] The present invention provides an effective means of eliminating or reducing unwanted vibrations in a device such as a speaker and is easy to install and use.

[0079] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes and / or modifications can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed. The construction of the embodiments of the invention therefore should not be construed as limiting in any regard.

Claims

1. A shock isolator, comprising: Comprising: a base; a housing extending from the base, the housing having an aperture substantially opposite the base; a connecting arm having one end within the housing, the connecting arm having means to attach to another structure; a plurality of connecting rods, one end of the connecting rods having a first recess or aperture, the first recess or aperture housing a first bearing, the other end of the connecting rods having a second recess or aperture, the second recess or aperture housing a second bearing, the recess or aperture having an inward facing surface, the bearing having an outward facing surface, the inward facing surface of the recess or aperture and the outward facing surface of the bearing being substantially arcuate; the bearings having attachment means, each connecting rod being pivotally connected at one end thereof or adjacent one end thereof to the housing by the attachment means of the first bearing and at the other end thereof or adjacent the other end thereof to the connecting arm by the attachment means of the second bearing, the connection between each connecting rod and the connecting arm being closer to the base than the connection between each connecting rod and the housing.

2. The shock isolator of claim 1, wherein the connection between each connecting rod and the housing and the connection between each connecting rod and the connecting arm allowing pivotal movement in the plane of the connecting rod and rotational movement about the axis of the connecting rod.

3. The shock isolator of claim 1, wherein the base being connected to the housing in a manner which allows adjustment between the base and the housing.

4. The shock isolator of claim 1, wherein, the connecting arm extending outwardly through the aperture in the housing.

5. The shock isolator of claim 1, wherein the vibration isolator being mounted between a loudspeaker and a support surface.

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