Device for reproducing sound and listening to music

Abstract

A sound reproducing device (1) is described, comprising at least a first resonance element (3) operatively connected to at least one second resonance element (5) by at least one covering element (9), the second resonance element (5) being operatively connected to at least a third resonance element (7) by at least one fixing element (11), the third resonance element (7) being operatively connected to a support element (13); the device (1) has a substantially circular shape, preferably a crown; moreover, the first resonance device (3), the second resonance device (5) and the third resonance device (7) are made of wood, preferably solid spruce wood.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a sound reproduction device, which is a tube amplifier, according to claim 1 or claim 5.

[0002] Internet article "Construction and enhancement of stereo vacuum amplifier with precision machined enclosure" by Nikolaus Glazar shows how to build a high fidelity tube amplifier and to machine its wooden enclosure.

[0003] The state of the art of Hi-Fi products for sound reproduction is now divided into two categories: consumer products with consolidated technological characteristics, based on reproduction through systems such as CD, DVD, MP3 players, signal amplifiers and low-cost loudspeakers (hundreds of Euros); so-called "Hi-End" products for the quality reproduction of music, based on technologies that are partly consolidated, partly innovative, on the use of standard components (active semiconductor devices, speakers, cables, etc., mounted on containers made of ferrous metals, plastics or wood composites), high-end or very high-end (thousands or tens of thousands of Euros).

[0004] At the state of the art there are no or we are not aware of mid-range Hi-Fi products, which use sophisticated components, such as thermionic valves or materials such as solid wood, glass, "Supermirror" stainless steel, and that is positioned on a mid-range.

[0005] The limit of current technology on the market makes available to the user for the consumer range products built with poor quality components and materials, thus affecting the quality aspects of sound reproduction and aesthetics.

[0006] High-end products may have these characteristics, but are sold at affordable price levels for only a few.

[0007] Object of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems by providing: use of "noble" materials such as resonance wood or Supermirror steel or glass in mid-range Hi-Fi products to improve the acoustics and performance of the device; reuse of timber from forests devastated by storm Vaia, with financing for the subsequent planting of spruce in the same areas.

[0008] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will emerge from the following description, are achieved with a sound reproducing 25 device such as the one described in claim 1 and claim 5. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] It is understood that all the attached claims form an integral part of the present description.

[0010] It will be immediately obvious that innumerable variations and modifications (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what has been described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined the attached claims.

[0011] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the sound reproducing device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of an embodiment of the sound reproducing device according to the present invention; FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the sound reproducing device according to the present invention; FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the sound reproducing device according to the present invention; FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the sound reproducing device according to the present invention.

[0012] The present invention belongs to the technical sector of Hi-Fi products for sound reproduction and listening to music.

[0013] With reference to the Figures, it can be noted that the sound reproducing device 1 comprises a first resonance element 3 operatively connected to at least one second resonance element 5 by at least one support element 9, the second resonance element 5 is operatively connected to at least a third resonance element 7 from at least one fixing element 11, the third resonance element 7 is operatively connected to a support element 13.

[0014] Advantageously, the device 1 is substantially circular in shape, preferably crown-shaped, furthermore the resonance devices 3, 5 and 7 are made of wood material, preferably solid resonance spruce wood.

[0015] The present invention is based on the desire to use particular valuable materials for the construction of the product.

[0016] In particular, in relation to the phenomenon known as "Tempesta Vaia", a meteorological event that devastated the woods of Veneto and Trentino from 26 to 30 October 2018, it was hypothesized to use wood from the crashed forests for the construction of the device 1.

[0017] This activity is carried out with the collaboration of the Paneveggio State Forest: the Paneveggio National Park is recognized as a park authority for the protection of spruce forests. The spruce that grows in this area is recognized to have morphological characteristics that make it suitable for the construction of musical instruments, as is known by verifying its use as "Resonance Wood". An area of the Paneveggio Park is also known as the "Forest of violins", because it is said that Stradivari himself, the well-known violin maker from Cremona, supplied himself with the timber that grew in these woods, given its properties particularly suitable for construction of the aforesaid tools.

[0018] In addition, the purpose of using the timber crashed by the Vaia Storm is also to finance the planting of new forests in collaboration with Trentinotreeagreement, the non-profit organization that is raising funds for this purpose.

[0019] The technical problem faced is the aesthetic and functional design of the device 1, taking into account the specific properties of the spruce wood used.

[0020] This wood, being particularly malleable, suffers from processing problems from solid wood: for this reason 3 techniques had to be used: selection of the wood used, starting from the crashed trunks and selected at the Paneveggio Park together with the agency that manages the State Forest, together with the particular sawing technique called "quartered", which extracts the best quality of wood boards for processing; particular milling techniques of the boards described above, which avoid the effects of "peeling" or "cracking" of the wood thus cut; assembly of the boards that form the amplifier container with particular methods, associated with "plugs" and reinforcing metal plates, to make the structure as compact and solid as possible: in fact, consider that the container of a tube amplifier must support weights of the various elements ranging from 15 to 30 kg.

[0021] One of the most important manufacturing problems was the realization of a container of the device 1 with a substantially circular shape, starting from wooden boards.

[0022] The alternative to solve the problems related to the realization of the device 1 in a round shape is to design it in a square shape, in the classic method of the four-sided container, fixed at the corners.

[0023] This alternative was created to simplify the design and construction of the container, and will be the subject of another product to be brought to the market.

[0024] The additional advantages of the square variant are the simpler realization in the production phase, both in the manufacturing phase of the parts and in its mechanical assembly.

[0025] These simplifications therefore involve the lowest production cost: therefore this alternative will be put on the market with a lower price.

[0026] In particular, the structure of the device 1 is made up of at least three resonance elements 3, 5 and 7 of spruce wood coming from the crashed forests of Paneveggio and are made up of 4 elements of 90° each, which are processed starting from a structure "Rhombus".

[0027] Four wooden strips are first obtained with the 45° cut shape, the strips are joined in a square structure, which makes the cabinet very sturdy and free from successive "movements" of the wood, since the four strips are made from sawn wood.

[0028] This way of sawing the trunk, once the central part of the most tender part (pith) has been eliminated, allows to obtain single boards with the greatest strength ever, since the growth rings are perpendicular to the cutting line.

[0029] The table therefore appears on the side of the square made up of four strips with the most robust part for subsequent milling, which starting from the square creates the wooden circle that makes up the circular structure of device 1.

[0030] In this way, the subsequent processing takes place on more robust surfaces than a board cut tangentially.

[0031] Furthermore, the juxtaposition of four strips in the square structure allows to perfectly counterbalance the forces of movement of the wood over time.

[0032] Advantageously, the table also presents itself aesthetically with the growth lines of the wood horizontally.

[0033] In particular, the structure of the device 1 comprises a support element 9 in Supermirror steel, which acts as a support for the heavy mechanical elements, such as the chromed transformer devices 15 and the valve devices 17, from the stiffening structure of the wooden cabinet, through pins. fixing, and finally as an aesthetic element for the mirror effect.

[0034] Similarly, the portions of the fixing element 11, also in Supermirror steel, have the same stiffening effect on the wooden structure.

[0035] The elements making up the structure (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) are eventually all glued together to create a single, rigid and robust structure, capable of supporting the weight of the assembly, of about 20 kg.

[0036] The device 1 is completed by the valve devices 17, suitable for obtaining the amplification of the sound signal.

[0037] In addition, the polycarbonate cover element 19 is designed with the aim of dust protection and aesthetics.

[0038] The device 1 constructed in this way therefore has evident properties of strength and solidity due to the unique technique of cutting and fixing the "square structure" wood (moreover, spruce wood, although "resonant" which is on average denser, is a wood with specific weight among the lowest of the various essences and therefore more tender).

[0039] Also the use of three overlapping circular wooden resonance elements 3, 5 and 7, connected to the support element 9 and to the fixing element 11, allow the best combination of stiffness and strength.

[0040] In addition, the device 1 has aesthetic characteristics of solid wood, associated with those of reflection of the mirrored steel lights and transformer devices 15 with chromed caps, unique in the sector.

[0041] Advantageously, the use of wood crashed by the Vaia Storm, obtained from the Paneveggio forest through the intervention of the State Forest, allows an ecological contribution of reuse of wood material, and a social contribution to finance the planting of new forests, through the proceeds that will come from the sale of the amplifiers.

Claims

1. Sound reproducing device (1), which is a tube amplifier, comprising at least a first resonance element (3) operatively connected to at least one second resonance element (5) by at least one support element(9), said second resonance element (5) is connected operatively to at least a third resonance element (7) by at least one fixing element (11), said third resonance element (7) is operatively connected to a support element (13); wherein said device is substantially circular in shape, preferably crown-shaped, furthermore said first resonance element (3), said second resonance element (5) and said third resonance element (7) are made of material woody, preferably solid spruce wood, wherein the three resonance elements (3), (5), (7) are three overlapping circular wooden resonance elements and each of said resonance elements is manufactured with a process comprising the steps of: - removing the most tender central part of the trunk (medulla); - obtaining four wooden strips, using a quarter-sawn technique with a 45° cut shape; - joining the four strips obtained in a square structure that makes the cabinet very sturdy and free from successive "movements" of the wood; - milling the structure obtained starting from a square and obtain the wooden circle that makes up the circular structure of the device (1).

2. Sound reproducing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said support element (9) and said fixing element (11) are made of steel, preferably of Supermirror steel.

3. Sound reproducing device (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said support element (9) is designed to contain a plurality of transformer devices (15) and / or a plurality of valve devices (17).

4. Sound reproducing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one covering element (19) operatively connected to said first resonance element (3).

5. Sound reproducing device (1), which is a tube amplifier, comprising at least a first resonance element (3) operatively connected to at least one second resonance element (5) by at least one support element (9), said second resonance element (5) is connected operatively to at least a third resonance element (7) by at least one fixing element (11), said third resonance element (7) is operatively connected to a support element (13); wherein said device (1) is substantially square in shape, and wherein furthermore said first resonance element (3), said second resonance element (5) and said third resonance element (7) are made of material woody, preferably solid spruce wood, wherein the three resonance elements (3), (5), (7) are three overlapping square wooden resonance elements and each of said resonance elements is manufactured with a process comprising the steps of:- removing the most tender central part of the trunk (medulla);- obtaining four wooden strips, using a quarter-sawn technique with a 45° cut shape;- joining the four strips obtained in a square structure that makes the cabinet very sturdy and free from successive "movements" of the wood.

Images