SMALL DIRECT-FIRE CEILING SPEAKER SYSTEM

Description

FIELD OF ART

[0001] The present invention relates to ceiling mounted loudspeakers having a small form factor and direct sound delivery. The present invention more particularly relates to a small speaker system with a director that can adjust over a range of thicknesses of ceiling tiles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Ceiling speakers are used in suspended ceilings, typically for public address, alarm, or musical entertainment purposes. Many ceiling speakers are designed for predetermined thicknesses of ceiling tile. Many ceiling speakers also load the ceiling tile which can cause deformation or failure of the tile over time. Direct fire speakers are useful in sound masking applications. US published patent application 2011 / 0019862 to Smith et al. (hereinafter "Smith") discloses a small ceiling speaker apparatus that includes a slanted woofer at the slanted top opening of a tubular enclosure that curves to a bottom opening parallel to the plane of the ceiling. The bottom opening receives a multiply ported circular baffle that supports a midrange speaker and a tweeter. Smith discloses placing the adjusting the speaker module with respect to the ceiling material, such as clamping force adjustment. Smith does not disclose an externally circumferentially spaced apart opposed sets of threads on an acoustic channel shell, support on ceiling grid members, or a sequence of sliding and rotating a director onto an acoustic channel shell. Japanese patent JP S51145924 U discloses a ceiling speaker installation with a flat attenuator assembled with screws that restricts the amount of sound output (volume) by adjustably obstructing the sound output. US published patent application 2010 / 040254A1 discloses a ceiling speaker assembly comprising a mounting frame, a plurality of dog fasteners, and a dog actuator ring that has spiral protrusions wherein rotation of the dog actuator ring relative to the mounting frame causes the rotating dog fasteners to rotate and secure the mounting frame to a mounting substrate.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is set out in the appended set of claims. The portion of the small ceiling speaker that is above the ceiling tile is preferably supported in an enclosure that is supported directly by the grid of ceiling tile supports, and not on the tiles per se. The portion of the small ceiling speaker that is below the ceiling tile is small. The sound director includes a flanged cylindrical shell body for adjustably coupling to an acoustic channel shell, a direct fire ring, a magnetically attachable and releasable grill, and appropriate couplings.DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and FIG. 1 is a side-bottom perspective exploded view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the director of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7 and defining cross section AA, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view through cross section AA illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director of FIG. 1 installed in a small ceiling speaker system to form the direct fire small ceiling speaker system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a side elevation view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7 and defining a cross section BB, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 10 is a cross sectional elevation view through cross section BB illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] As used and defined herein, "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "upward", and "downward" are referenced to the present invention in its installed orientation, as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10. As used and defined herein, "speaker" means "loudspeaker" or "tweeter", as shown in FIG. 10. As used and defined herein, "director", without more, means an acoustic director for projecting sound.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a side-bottom perspective exploded view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 (see FIG. 7), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The director interface 152 has a cylindrical shell body 108 with circumferentially spaced apart opposed sets of threads 106 (one visible set of two opposing sets labeled) on an internal surface 154 of the cylindrical shell body 108, an annular flange 110 extending radially from a bottom external portion of the cylindrical shell body 108, and three spokes 102 (one of three labeled) extending from a bottom interior portion of the cylindrical shell body 108. Annular flange 110 has a radially arcuate lower surface 156. Spokes 102 have predetermined cross sections, illustrated here as rectangular, and meet at a common hub 104. In various other embodiments, respective other cross-sectional shapes may be used for spokes 102. Spokes 102 extend below annular flange 110. Hub 104 has a threaded fastener receiver 112 for receiving the threaded end of threaded fastener 132, illustrated here as screw 132. Circumferentially spaced apart opposed sets of threads 106 are for adjusting the distance between the annular flange 110 and the bottom panel 706 (see FIG. 7), to adapt to different thicknesses of ceiling tile. The illustrated pattern of spokes 102 is merely exemplary: in various embodiments, other patterns and numbers of spokes 102 may be used. Preferably, the director interface 152 is of one piece.

[0007] Direct fire ring 114 has an annular frame 116 and three direct fire ring spokes 150 (one of three labeled) extending radially inward from the direct fire ring 114 to join ring hub 128. Each direct fire ring spoke 150 has a left side 118 (looking radially outward, one of three labeled) and a right side 120 (looking radially outward, one of three labeled) that will define a channel 302 (See FIG. 3) for receiving portions of spokes 102 (one of three labeled). Channel bottom section undersides 122 and 124 (one of three of each labeled) are divided by a vertical support flange 126 (one of three labeled). Ring hub 128 has a beveled fastener receiver 130 for receiving the head of fastener 134, illustrated as a countersink screw 134, for attaching the direct fire ring 114 to the director interface 152. Ring hub 128 also supports three magnet cups 136 (one of three labeled), each having a cavity 138 for receiving and retaining a magnet 142 (one of three labeled). Direct fire ring 114 is preferably of one piece. In various embodiments, direct fire ring 114 may have more or fewer direct fire ring spokes 150 in respective various configurations, corresponding to the number and configuration of spokes 102.

[0008] Audio speaker grill 144 is foraminous and magnetically attachable and releasable using magnets 142 (one of three labeled). Audio speaker grill 144 has an upwardly extending rim 146 that fits around annular frame 116 of direct fire ring 114 during assembly.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this assembled configuration, director 100 can be attached to acoustic channel shell 1008 (see FIG. 10) of the remainder of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 (see FIG. 7). When installed, acoustic channel shell 1008 (see FIG. 10) extends through an opening 714 (see FIG. 7) in a bottom panel 706 and through an opening in a ceiling tile 802 (see FIG. 8) to threadingly engage the cylindrical shell body 108 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 (see FIG. 7).

[0010] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A lower portion of spoke 102 of the director interface 152 is within a channel 302 formed between left 118 and right 120 sides of direct fire ring spoke 150. Direct fire ring spokes 150 are alignable to spokes 102 in any configuration. The end of fastener 134 is visible in hub 104 which is aligned with ring hub 128. Annular flange 110 has a flat top surface 304.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7 and defining cross section AA, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Foraminous audio speaker grill 144 is releasably attached to the direct fire ring 114 by magnets 142. Cross section AA does not pass through the magnet cups 136.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view through cross section AA illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The partial nesting of spokes 102 within direct fire ring spokes 150 is visible in this view. Fastener 134 extends through ring hub 128 and threads into hub 104 to fasten direct fire ring 114 to director interface 152. Center hub 104 partially nests within a cavity 502 in the top of fire ring hub 128, as shown.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of FIG. 1 of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Two magnet cups 136 are visible in this view. Magnets 142 may be installed in magnet cups 136 by adhesion or similarly effective means.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the director 100 of FIG. 1 installed in a small ceiling speaker system to form the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Enclosure 702 houses a speaker 1002 (see FIG. 10), a tweeter 1004 (see FIG. 10), and associated electronics 1006 (see FIG. 10). Enclosure 702 features an access panel 716, a strain relief 718, electrical connectors 720, and a rim 704. Bottom panel 706 is secured within rim 704 and provides a carrier 710 for the speaker 1002 and tweeter 1004 that is fastened to the bottom panel 706 using fastener ring 712. Opening 714 in carrier 710 admits the acoustic channel shell 1008 (see FIG. 10) to be threadingly attached to the cylindrical shell body 108. Enclosure 702 has four independently extendable braces 708 (one of four labeled) to support the enclosure 702 on the ceiling tile supports 804 (See FIG. 8), rather than on the ceiling tile 802 (see FIG. 8) itself.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The four independently extendable braces 708 (one of four labeled). support the enclosure 702 on the ceiling tile supports 804, rather than on the ceiling tile 802 itself. Ceiling tile supports 804 are grid members of a suspended ceiling support grid. Director 100 can be sliding and then threadably adjusted to accommodate ceiling tiles 802 of various thicknesses 806. Ceiling tile support 804 is shown with independently extendable brace 708 engaged.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 7 and defining a cross section BB, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When installed in a ceiling, only audio speaker grill 144 and annular flange 110 would be visible in this view.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional elevation view through cross section BB illustrating the exemplary embodiment of the direct fire small ceiling speaker system 700 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Speaker 1002 is shown in a downward-pointed orientation, as is tweeter 1004. Cylindrical shell body 108 can be seen threadingly engaged with acoustic channel shell 1008, which extends from speaker 1002. Associated electronics within enclosure 702 are not limited to transformer 1006, which may have selectable multiple taps.

[0018] Advantages for this invention include interchangeability of the director 100 with the diffuser of a preexisting system, the direct fire ring 114, the partially nesting hubs 104 and 128, and the partially nesting spokes 102 and 150. Director 100 produces a small acoustic footprint, which is a further advantage, and so enables the use of one design of small ceiling speaker system for both diffuse and directed fire sound systems.

Claims

1. A direct fire small ceiling speaker system (700) comprising: an enclosed small ceiling speaker system operable to project sound through a partially threaded acoustic channel shell, the enclosed small ceiling speaker system comprising a speaker (1002), a tweeter (1004), associated electronics (1006) and an enclosure (702), which enclosure houses the speaker (1002), the tweeter (1004) and the associated electronics (1006); said partially threaded acoustic channel shell (1008); a director (100), the director having a director interface (152) with a cylindrical shell body (108), the cylindrical shell body (108) having circumferentially spaced apart opposed sets of threads (106) on an internal surface (154) of the cylindrical shell body (108); wherein the opposed sets of threads (106) of the director (100) is adjustably engageable to threads of the partially threaded acoustic channel shell (1008) and the director operable, when so engaged, to direct said projected sound downward; an annular flange (110) extending radially from a bottom external portion of said cylindrical shell body (108); the enclosure (702) has a bottom panel (706); and said circumferentially spaced apart opposed sets of threads (106) are configured to adjust the distance between the annular flange (110) and the bottom panel (706), to adapt to different thicknesses of a ceiling tile (802).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said director (100) comprises: i. said director interface (152); ii. a direct fire ring (114) attachable to said director interface (152); and iii. an audio speaker grill (144) releasably attachable to said direct fire ring (114).

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a fastener (134) for fastening said direct fire ring (114) to said director interface (152).

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said director (100) comprises at least one magnet (142) supported in said direct fire ring (114) operable to releasably attach said audio speaker grill (144) to said direct fire ring (114).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said director interface (152) comprises: a. a plurality of spokes (102) extending radially inward from a bottom portion of said cylindrical shell body (108) to a central hub (104); and b. a threaded fastener receiver (112) in said central hub (104).

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said annular flange (110) has a flat upper surface (304) and a radially arcuate bottom surface (156).

7. The system of claim 5, wherein each spoke (102) of said plurality of spokes: i. has a predetermined cross-sectional shape; and ii. extends below said annular flange.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said direct fire ring (114) comprises: a. an annular frame (116); b. a plurality of fire direct ring spokes (150) extending radially inward from said annular frame (116) to a fire ring hub (128); and c. a beveled fastener receiver (130) in said fire ring hub (128).

9. The system of claim 8, comprising a. a plurality of magnet cups (136) extending from said fire ring hub (128); and b. a cavity (502) in a top of said fire ring hub (128) configured to receive at least a portion of said central hub (104).

10. The system of claim 8 wherein each direct fire ring spoke (150) of said plurality of direct fire ring spokes (150) comprises: i. a radial channel (302) configured to receive at least a portion of a corresponding spoke (102) of said plurality of spokes (102) of said director interface (152); and ii. an orientation alignable to said corresponding spoke (102) of said plurality of spokes (102) of said director interface (152).

11. The system of claim 2, wherein said audio speaker grill comprises (144): a. a circular foraminous panel; and b. a rim (146) extending upward from a perimeter of said circular foraminous panel.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein: a. said director interface (152) is of one piece; b. said direct fire ring (114) is of one piece; and c. said audio speaker grill (144) is of one piece.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein enclosure (702) comprises first, second, third, and fourth independently extendable braces (708) configured to rest on members of a suspended ceiling support grid.