ACOUSTIC SPEAKER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE SIDE PANELS

Abstract

The acoustic enclosure (1) comprises a body (2) and a removable, non-planar end panel (8) comprising a front portion (10) and a side portion (9). This end panel (8) is attached to the body by: - ​​at least one hinge (17) for connecting and positioning the front portion (10) of the end panel, comprising a male part (18) with a projecting rod (19), and a female part (20) with a housing (21) for receiving the projecting rod (19), and - at least one connecting assembly (39) for the side portion (9) of the end panel on the body (2), comprising at least one attachment piece capable of cooperating with the body (2) despite variable relative positioning between the body (2) and the side portion (9) of the end panel (8). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 25

Description

Title of the invention: ACOUSTIC ENCLOSURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE SIDE PANELS technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of sound diffusion enclosures, also called acoustic enclosures.

[0002] More specifically, it relates to an acoustic enclosure comprising removable and interchangeable covering walls. Previous technique

[0003] Loudspeaker enclosures generally comprise a body that supports the sound generation means, including one or more loudspeakers. This body has an acoustic function, namely to separate the front and rear sound waves emitted by the loudspeaker(s). For aesthetic reasons, this body may be covered with external trim panels, such as a lid, a front panel, or side panels.

[0004] Conventionally, it is not possible to customize a speaker enclosure, and the external casing elements of the enclosure are fused with the body of the enclosure. It is the same part.

[0005] Nevertheless, today's consumers are increasingly demanding customization of their technological equipment, and in particular the ability to change and / or repair certain speaker components without having to replace everything. This trend compels manufacturers to offer a wide range of possible finishes for their speakers, with different materials, shapes, and colors available for the speaker panels. However, this proliferation of product lines is problematic and costly for manufacturers. It complicates speaker production and makes inventory management more complex.

[0006] It would therefore be advantageous for manufacturers to have a single speaker body design, onto which a multitude of different trim panels could be attached indifferently according to the consumer's personalization wishes.

[0007] Furthermore, loudspeakers, and especially high-end loudspeakers, are expensive, and consumers want to keep them as long as possible. To maintain a sense of renewal, consumers would also like to be able to change the appearance of their loudspeakers once or several times during their lifespan, for example, to match a new interior design. It would therefore be advantageous for the cover panels to be removable and interchangeable.

[0008] In the prior art, most loudspeakers do not have trim panels, and the body provides the external aesthetic appearance. This is particularly true when loudspeakers have a large body and / or curved or non-planar lines.

[0009] However, some models of loudspeakers with removable and interchangeable side panels have been proposed, such as the CHAMELEON™ loudspeaker marketed by SONUS FABER™. However, these models allow only limited customization of the loudspeaker. Indeed, the interchangeable side panels only cover a limited portion of the loudspeaker. Furthermore, they are flat and all made of the same material, for example, rigid plastic or wood with a lacquered finish.

[0010] These side panels are attached to the enclosure body by means of a set of pins and clips that engage in corresponding openings through a translational movement. However, such an attachment system is not suitable for large trim panels, as the clips and pins would be very far apart and might no longer align with their corresponding openings due to manufacturing tolerances. This attachment system is also incompatible with trim panels that have complex, non-planar shapes, particularly curved shapes, where it is impossible to engage the clips and pins with a simple translational movement.

[0011] There is therefore a need for an enclosure comprising removable side panels, easily interchangeable by the user, which could be large and thus cover a large part of the body of the enclosure, and have complex aesthetic shapes, including curved ones.

[0012] For greater customization, it would also be desirable for the various compatible side panels to be offered in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, metal, linen, carbon fiber, or even, for example, molded felt ("Formfleece"). However, each of these materials has different weight and rigidity characteristics. Currently, no satisfactory fastening system has been proposed that is compatible with all of these materials and also suitable for large, non-planar side panels.

[0013] In addition, the replacement of the trim panels should be simple and quick, regardless of the shape, material and size of these trim panels, so that it can be easily carried out by the user himself.

[0014] Furthermore, it is desirable that the replacement side panels continue to provide a satisfactory aesthetic appearance to the visible part of the enclosure, and in particular when the enclosure has several of them as well as good alignment at the front of the enclosure of the replaced cheeks, even if they are of complex shape.

[0015] Finally, as they are intended for acoustic enclosures, these removable side panels and their fixing means should preferably be neutral in terms of sound, that is to say, they should not interfere with the production and diffusion of sound, nor be the source of parasitic noises which would reduce the quality of the sound produced by said enclosures.

[0016] All these conditions mean that this need has remained unmet until now.

[0017] There is therefore a technical problem in obtaining an acoustic enclosure with at least one removable and interchangeable side panel in a simple and quick manner, adapted to large and non-planar shaped paneling, preferably neutral in a sound plane and correctly aligned at the front of the enclosure. Presentation of the invention

[0018] To address this technical problem, the present invention proposes an acoustic enclosure comprising a body and at least one removable and interchangeable side panel, which includes a rear portion and a front portion extending over at least one plane.

[0019] According to the invention, this side panel is fixed to the body of the enclosure by means of a fastening device comprising: - at least one hinge for connecting and positioning the front portion of the trim panel, said hinge comprising: . a male part with a protruding stem, and . a female part with a housing for receiving the protruding rod, and - at least one connection assembly for the rear portion of the trim panel on the body, said connection assembly comprising at least one attachment piece capable of cooperating with the body despite a variable relative positioning between the body and the rear portion of the trim panel.

[0020] Advantageously, the rear portion and the front portion extend along a straight or curved plane.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the front portion is a frontal portion covering a front face of the body while the rear portion is a lateral portion covering a lateral face of the body.

[0022] The enclosure's side panel according to the invention is removable and interchangeable, even if it has a complex shape because it is not flat. Its original fastening system, with a pivoting hinge at the front and a connecting assembly accepting tolerances to The back allows it to be easily disassembled and replaced with another of the same or different material, which is easily reassembled by the user.

[0023] The side panel can be formed to cover only one side face of an enclosure with a non-planar shape. In this embodiment, the front portion of the side panel corresponds to the part closest to the front of the enclosure, while the lateral portion corresponds to the part furthest from the front of the enclosure.

[0024] Preferably, the front portion covers a front face of the body while the lateral portion covers a lateral face of the body.

[0025] The linking and positioning hinge allows the front portion of the trim panel to be fixed with precise positioning on the body, which ensures a satisfactory aesthetic in the front part of the body, i.e. the most visible part of the enclosure.

[0026] The connecting assembly merely attaches the lateral portion of the side panel to the body, without precisely positioning it. It thus compensates for problems of relative positioning between the mounting parts, related to manufacturing tolerances and the inherent deformation of side panels made of flexible material or of large size, without this being visible to the user because any cosmetic defects are concealed at the rear of the enclosure. The connecting assembly also allows the hinges to be locked in place.

[0027] Preferably, the hinge also includes a first elastomer interface element, interposed between the protruding stem and the receiving housing so as to avoid direct contact between them.

[0028] With this embodiment, the fastening device is perfectly suited to a sound enclosure, because the elastomer interface element, interposed between the protruding rod and the hinge housing, prevents unwanted noise that could result from direct contact between them, eliminates play, and absorbs micro-vibrations. It is therefore acoustically neutral, while remaining easy to engage and disengage.

[0029] According to one embodiment of this enclosure, the protruding rod of the male part is substantially hemispherical in shape, which gives the connecting and positioning hinge a ball joint character.

[0030] This feature facilitates the mounting or dismounting of the side panel on the enclosure body, because the protruding stem of the male part of the hinge can be more easily engaged or disengaged from the receiving recess of the female part, even if the side panel is slightly inclined and the protruding stem is not exactly aligned with the receiving recess. This is particularly advantageous when the enclosure has several hinges that need to be assembled or disassembled simultaneously.

[0031] The first interface element can be an elastomer coating on the protruding stem of the male part or in the receiving housing of the female part, or an independent element which engages on the protruding stem of the male part or in the receiving housing of the female part.

[0032] Preferably, the hinge is adjustable in at least two directions, so as to be able to adjust the position of the front portion of the trim panel on the body.

[0033] It is thus possible to precisely adjust the positioning of the front portion of the trim panels at the front of the body and in particular the parallelism of the edges of the two trim panels located on either side of the enclosure, for an optimal aesthetic result.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the male or female part of the hinge which is located on the body, comprises a mounting plate pierced with several oblong holes, oriented perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge, oblong holes through which the mounting plate is screwed onto the body.

[0035] The mounting plate can thus be moved along the axis of these oblong holes, to laterally adjust each of the hinges independently and thus optimize the positioning of the front portion of the trim panels at the front of the enclosure.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the male part of the hinge further comprises a tubular support, internally tapped and open at least one of its ends, and in that the protruding rod of said male part extends into a threaded shaft which is engaged and screwed into said tubular support, the tubular support and the threaded shaft being oriented along the pivot axis of the hinge.

[0037] The threaded shaft can thus be screwed more or less into the tubular support so as to raise or lower the protruding rod and its collar, thus allowing each of the hinges to be adjusted vertically independently to optimize the positioning of the front portion of the trim panels at the front of the enclosure.

[0038] According to a variant of this embodiment, the male part of the hinge may further comprise a collar, located between the protruding rod and the threaded axis, as well as a spacer disposed between the tubular support and said collar.

[0039] The spacer, which is wedged between the flange and the edge of the tubular support, allows the nominal hinge adjustment position defined in the design to be established and maintained. This spacer is advantageously removable to allow the protruding rod to be adjusted to a position lower than the nominal position. Furthermore, the protruding rod can be adjusted to a position higher than the nominal position by removing the spacer.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the male or female part of the hinge is located on the inner face of the front portion of the trim panel, and comprises preferably a mounting plate drilled with several holes which is glued onto the inner face of the front portion of the trim panel.

[0041] The hinge is thus hidden behind the front portion of the trim panel.

[0042] With regard to the rear support of the dressing cheek, in one embodiment, said connection assembly includes a loop band and a hook band of a self-gripping tape.

[0043] In the context of the invention, a loop and a hook section of a self-gripping tape can correspond to a "dual lock" type tape. These "dual lock" tapes are generally in the form of a plastic and / or foam strip having a smooth adhesive surface on one side and a hook and loop surface on the other. On this type of tape, the hook and loop surface is in the form of small plastic "mushrooms." In this case, the loop and hook sections are identical in shape, with the hooks interlocking. The surface density of these "mushrooms" can advantageously vary from one section to the other in order to modify the fastening strength of the two tapes.

[0044] Dual lock straps are often used in applications where a strong hold is required, but where it is also important to be able to easily remove the object without damaging it. They are frequently used in industry to hold electronic components in place, to secure car accessories, to hold display panels in place, and for many other applications.

[0045] Such a linkage assembly is economical and simple for the user. It allows for the satisfactory retention of lightweight trim panels, while accepting positioning tolerances in two directions.

[0046] According to another embodiment, said connecting assembly includes a tab pierced with an oblong hole and fixed on the lateral portion of the dressing cheek, the tab being able to be inserted into a cavity in the body so that a cylindrical rod engages in said oblong hole to hold the lateral portion on the body.

[0047] Such a linkage assembly makes it possible to satisfactorily maintain the cladding cheeks of greater rigidity, while accepting positioning tolerances in two directions and remaining simple for the user.

[0048] Preferably, a second elastomer interface element is interposed between the oblong hole and the cylindrical rod so as to avoid direct contact between them.

[0049] The second elastomer interface element, which is interposed between the oblong hole and the cylindrical rod, absorbs micro-vibrations, eliminates play, and prevents unwanted noise at the connection assembly that could result from direct contact between the oblong hole and the cylindrical rod. The connecting assembly is therefore sound-neutral, while remaining easy to engage and disengage.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the acoustic enclosure may further comprise at least one foam spacer disposed on the side face of the body or on the inner face of the lateral portion of the side panel, and extending respectively towards the inner face of the lateral portion of the side panel or the lateral face of the body until it comes into contact with it when at least one connecting assembly locks the pivoting of the side panel relative to the body.

[0051] These foam spacers thus create a connection between the cheek covering and the lateral face of the body, making it possible to limit the free surfaces of the cheek, which could be liable to vibrate and generate unwanted sounds.

[0052] According to a variant of this embodiment, the acoustic enclosure may further comprise at least one acoustic insulation composite block, disposed opposite said foam spacer, on the side face of the body when the foam spacer is on the inner face of the side portion of the side panel or on the inner face of the side portion of the side panel when the foam spacer is on the side face of the body, and which compresses the foam spacer when at least one connecting assembly locks the pivoting of the side panel relative to the body.

[0053] According to another embodiment, the acoustic insulation composite block is placed directly on the cladding side panel.

[0054] The acoustic insulation blocks thus enhance the effectiveness of the foam spacers. Indeed, these acoustic insulation blocks dampen and offset the inherent resonances of the cladding panels made of rigid materials, such as wood and certain plastics.

[0055] Advantageously, the casing side panel of the enclosure according to the invention can be made of wood, linen, carbon fiber, thermoformed plastic material or formed felt known as "formfleece".

[0056] It may also be large in size and / or have a curvature.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the acoustic enclosure comprises two side panels and two hinges per side panel, and the side panels cover the lateral faces of the body portion containing the low-frequency speaker ("woofer") and optionally extend to also cover the lateral faces of the body portion containing the high-frequency speaker ("tweeter"). Thus, the side panel includes an extension intended to cover the upper part of the lateral face of the body, said upper part containing another speaker, for example a tweeter.

[0058] According to another embodiment, the enclosure comprises, in addition to the main cover, a supplementary cover for covering the upper part of the side face of the body, said upper part housing another loudspeaker, for example a tweeter. The supplementary cover is independent of the main cover, and its attachment to the upper part of the side face is ensured by a supplementary fastening means.Preferably, in this embodiment, the enclosure includes a device for positioning the additional trim panel, for example a projecting element located on the inner face of the additional trim panel or on the side face of the body, and a cavity provided to receive the projecting element and formed opposite it, respectively in the side face of the body or in the inner face of the additional trim panel, the engagement of the projecting element in the cavity serving as a reference for the positioning of the additional trim panel.

[0059] According to a variant of this embodiment, the acoustic enclosure may further comprise, for each side panel, a linear stiffening element, which is located on the inner face of the front portion of said side panel, near the male or female parts of the two hinges located on the inner face of the front portion of said side panel, and which extends in a direction substantially parallel to that connecting these two male or female parts of the two hinges. Brief description of the figures

[0060] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0061] [Fig-1] is a general perspective view of an example of a sound enclosure according to the invention which comprises a body and side panels for covering;

[0062] [Fig.2] is a general perspective view of the body of a first embodiment of an acoustic enclosure according to the invention;

[0063] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the inner face of a side panel intended to be mounted on the body of the [Fig.2];

[0064] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view at the height of the hinges of the body of the [Fig.2] on which is mounted the dressing cheek of the [Fig.3];

[0065] [Fig.5] is a general perspective view of the body of a second embodiment of an acoustic enclosure according to the invention;

[0066] [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view at the height of the hinges of the body of the [Fig.5] on which is mounted the dressing cheek of the [Fig.7];

[0067] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the inner face of a side panel intended to be mounted on the body of the [Fig.5];

[0068] [Fig.8] is an enlargement of the framed detail B in the top left of [Fig.7];

[0069] [Fig.9] is an enlargement of the framed detail A in the top right of [Fig.7];

[0070] [Fig. 10] is a general perspective view of the body of a third embodiment of an acoustic enclosure according to the invention;

[0071] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of the inner face of a trim side panel intended to be mounted on the body of the [Fig. 10];

[0072] [Fig. 12] is an exploded perspective view of the hook piece on the inner face of the lateral portion of the cheek covering of figures 7 and 11 and of a second elastomer interface element;

[0073] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of the attachment piece complementary to that of [Fig. 12];

[0074] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view, respectively exploded, before and after mounting of the side panel on the body of the enclosure, of the different elements of an example of a hinge that can be used for an acoustic enclosure according to the invention;

[0075] [Fig. 15] is a perspective view, respectively exploded, before and after mounting of the side panel on the body of the enclosure, of the different elements of an example of a hinge that can be used for a sound enclosure according to the invention;

[0076] [Fig. 16] is a perspective view, respectively exploded, before and after mounting of the side panel on the body of the enclosure, of the different elements of an example of a hinge that can be used for a sound enclosure according to the invention;

[0077] [Fig. 17] is a cross-sectional view of the front area of ​​an enclosure according to the invention, illustrating a sequence of mounting the side panel on the body of the enclosure, the side panel being respectively in the mounting position away from the side face of the body on [Fig. 17], then in the folded position against the side face of the body after pivoting around the hinges on [Fig. 18];

[0078] [Fig. 18] is a cross-sectional view of the front area of ​​an enclosure according to the invention, illustrating a sequence of mounting the side panel on the body of the enclosure, the side panel being respectively in the mounting position away from the side face of the body on [Fig. 17], then in the folded position against the side face of the body after pivoting around the hinges on [Fig. 18];

[0079] [Fig. 19] is a cross-sectional view of the rear side of an enclosure according to the invention, illustrating a sequence of mounting the side panel onto the enclosure body, the side panel being respectively in the mounting position away from the side face of the body in [Fig. 19], in the position folded against the side face of the body after pivoting around the hinges in [Fig. 20], and then in the position locked to the side face of the body by engaging the hook pieces of the fixing element on the [Fig.21];

[0080] [Fig.20] is a cross-sectional view of the rear side part of an enclosure according to the invention, illustrating a sequence of mounting the side panel on the body of the enclosure, the side panel being respectively in the mounting position away from the side face of the body on the [Fig. 19], in the position folded against the side face of the body after pivoting around the hinges on the [Fig. 20], then in the locked position to the side face of the body by engaging the hook pieces of the fixing element on the [Fig. 21];

[0081] [Fig.21] is a cross-sectional view of the rear lateral part of an enclosure according to the invention, illustrating a sequence of mounting the side panel on the body of the enclosure, the side panel being respectively in the mounting position away from the side face of the body on the [Fig. 19], in the position folded against the side face of the body after pivoting around the hinges on the [Fig. 20], then in the locked position to the side face of the body by engaging the hook pieces of the fixing element on the [Fig. 21];

[0082] [Fig.22] is a perspective view of the inner face of a side panel additional intended to be mounted on the upper part of the side face of the body of the [Fig.2] or the [Fig.5] in order to also cover the part of the body containing the loudspeaker for high sounds (“tweeter”);

[0083] [Fig.23] is a cross-sectional view of the body of [Fig.2] or [Fig.5] on which the additional trim side of [Fig.22] is mounted, the section taken at the height of this additional trim side;

[0084] [Fig. 24] is a cross-sectional view of the body of the [Fig. 10] on which is mounted the trim side of the [Fig.l 1], cut made at the height of the extension of the trim side covering the upper part of the side face of the body containing the loudspeaker for high sounds (“tweeter”);

[0085] [Fig.25] is a cross-sectional view at the height of the hinges of a fourth method of embedding an acoustic enclosure according to the invention; and

[0086] [Fig.26] is a cross-sectional view at the height of the hinges of one-fifth method of embodiment of an acoustic enclosure according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0087] The acoustic enclosure according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to figures 1 to 26. The equivalent elements shown in the different figures will bear the same numerical references.

[0088] Figure 1 shows an example of an acoustic enclosure 1 according to the invention. This enclosure comprises a substantially parallelepiped-shaped body 2 which includes a front face 3, a rear face 4 and two side faces 5. The body 2 of the speaker 1 contains a number of acoustic elements enabling the generation of sound and in particular four "woofer" type speakers for bass sounds hidden under fabrics 5a and opening onto the side faces 5 of the body 2, a "midrange" type speaker 6 for mid sounds and a "tweeter" type speaker 7 for treble sounds which both open onto the front face 3 of the body 2. Alternatively, it is possible to use all possible configurations for the acoustic speaker 1, for example with a single full-range or coaxial speaker on the front or with a "midrange" type speaker combined with a "tweeter" type speaker.

[0089] The acoustic enclosure 1 shown also includes two side panels 8, each covering a side face 5 and a portion of the front face 3 of the enclosure body 2. To this end, each of these side panels 8 comprises a side portion 9 and a front portion 10, which respectively cover the corresponding side face 5 and a portion of the front face 3 of the body 2.

[0090] Alternatively, a person skilled in the art could also consider a side panel comprising a lateral portion 9 and two front portions 10, in order to cover both a portion of the front face 3 and a portion of the rear face 4 of the body 2 in addition to the corresponding lateral face 5. Furthermore, a curved side panel 8 may extend only over a lateral face 5.

[0091] According to another embodiment, the lateral portion 9 and the front portion 10 of the cheek 8 extending over at least two different planes, they are joined by at least one junction zone 11 which can be either angular or curved.

[0092] The front portions 10 of the side panels 8 shown cover, for example, about half of the front face 3 of the body 2 and have cutouts 12 of a shape adapted for the technical elements of the body 2 which should not be covered or should remain accessible, such as the speakers 6 and 7 and the power button or operating indicator light 13 of the speaker.

[0093] In the example of [Fig.1] and in the variants of figures 2 to 9, the trim sides 8 do not extend completely to the top of the side faces 5 of the body 2. To complete them, the acoustic enclosure 1 also includes two additional trim sides 14, independent of the trim sides 8, which cover the upper part of the side faces 5 of the body 2 which enclose the tweeter loudspeaker 7.

[0094] Alternatively, as for example in the embodiment of figures 10 and 11, the side panels 8 can extend upwards from one piece by means of an extension 15 which covers the top of the side faces 5 of the body 2 and thus for example the part of the body 2 containing the tweeter-type loudspeaker 7.

[0095] The side panels 8 are attached to the body 2 of the enclosure 1 by means of a fastening device which is preferably located between the side panels 8 and the body 2 so as not to be visible to the user once the side panels 8 are in place. This fastening device includes one or more connecting and positioning hinges 17 which allow the front portion 10 of the side panel 8 to be precisely positioned on the front face 3 of the body 2. The number of hinges 17 depends on the size of the acoustic enclosure 1 and the height of the side panel 8. It is generally between one for small enclosures and three for very large ones, and preferably two, as shown in the figures, for medium-sized enclosures.

[0096] This hinge 17 comprises a male part 18 with a protruding shank 19 and a female part 20 with a hollow receiving housing 21 in which the protruding shank 19 of the male part 18 is intended to be received.

[0097] For better understanding, a particular example of such a hinge 17 has been specifically illustrated in Figures 14 to 16.

[0098] In this example, the female part 20 is intended to be fixed, preferably by gluing, against the inner face 22 of the front portion 10 of the trim side 8. For this purpose, it includes a mounting plate 23, for example rectangular in shape, with several holes 24, which is intended to be glued against the inner face 22. From this plate 23 rises a retaining structure 25, ending in a tubular element 26, preferably open at both ends, and whose cylindrical bore 27 constitutes the receiving housing 21 for the female part 20.

[0099] A first interface element 28, made of elastomer and also tubular in shape, engages in the cylindrical bore 27 of the female part 20 and is held there by its two circular end rims 29.

[0100] Alternatively, this first interface element 28 could not be made in the form of an independent part, but could be directly overmolded inside the bore 27 of the female part 20.

[0101] According to other possible variants not shown, this first interface element could also be an independent part mounted on the protruding rod 19 of the male part 18, or an elastomer coating directly overmolded onto the protruding rod 19.

[0102] In all cases, this first interface element 28 eliminates any play between the protruding rod 19 and the receiving housing 21, while preventing direct contact between these two parts. The fit between the protruding rod 19 and the receiving housing 21 can thus be dimensionally compliant, or even slightly tight, thanks to this interface element 28 which allows the two parts of the hinge to be fitted together. Thus, the play, which always exists between the male part and the the female part of classic hinges, which could generate particularly annoying parasitic micro-vibrations in the case of a speaker, because they are audible when the speaker is in operation, is avoided thanks to this interface element 28 made of elastomer which absorbs the micro-vibrations.

[0103] In the example shown, the male part 18 of the hinge 17 is advantageously made in three parts so as to be adjustable in two directions.

[0104] It thus comprises a mounting plate 30 pierced with three oblong holes 31 which are oriented perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the hinge, i.e. to the general direction of the protruding rod 19 and the cylindrical housing 21. This plate 30 is intended to be screwed onto the front face 3 of the body 2 by means of screws passing through these oblong holes 31. Thanks to these oblong holes 31, it is thus possible to adjust the positioning of the mounting plate 30 and thus of the male part 18 of the hinge 17 on the front face 3 of the body 2, by sliding it in the direction of orientation of the oblong holes 31, i.e. substantially horizontally.

[0105] This mounting plate 30 is extended by an extension 32, terminating in a tubular support 33 which is open at at least one and preferably both ends 34, in order to provide access to its internal cylindrical bore 35 which is internally tapped. This tubular support 33 is oriented along the pivot axis of the hinge and is designed to receive the portion of the male part 18 comprising the protruding rod 19.

[0106] The protruding rod 19 is in fact mounted at the end of a threaded shaft 36 which can be screwed into the tapped bore 35 of the tubular support 33, until the collar 37, which extends radially between the protruding rod 19 and the threaded shaft 36, comes to rest against the end 34 of the tubular support 33.

[0107] By changing the engagement height of the threaded shaft 36 in the tapped bore 35 by simply screwing or unscrewing this shaft, the user can easily change the height of the protruding rod 19 and thus adjust the hinge 17 in a second direction corresponding to that of its pivot axis, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction.

[0108] A spacer 38 is preferably interposed between the collar 37 and the end 34 of the tubular support 33 and thus materializes and guarantees a nominal positioning of the protruding rod 19, as set at the factory during the manufacture of the hinge 17. This spacer 38 can obviously be removed if it is desired to decrease or increase the height of the protruding rod 19.

[0109] Thanks to these two adjustment options for the male part 18 of the hinge 17, by means of oblong holes 31 on the one hand and screwing the threaded shaft 36 into the tapped bore 35 on the other hand, it is possible to obtain a particularly precise positioning of the front portion 10 of the cover plate 8 on the front face 3 of the body 2 of the enclosure 1. The user can thus obtain a mounting of the two side panels 8 on the front face of the enclosure 1, with perfectly parallel edges and of the same height, which is particularly interesting from an aesthetic point of view.

[0110] Advantageously, all parts of the hinge 17 are made symmetrically so that they can be turned around, either from right to left or from top to bottom, so that they can be used interchangeably to fix the right or left side panel 8 of the enclosure 1.

[0111] Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the protruding rod 19 is very short and has an almost hemispherical shape. It can thus be easily engaged in the recess 21 of the female part 20, even if its axis is inclined relative to that of the recess 21. This feature gives the hinge 17 the characteristics of a ball joint rather than a simple pivot joint. The assembly of the trim panels 8 is thus significantly simplified for the user, particularly when they have several hinges 17 to be fitted simultaneously along the entire height of the trim panel.

[0112] The male part 18 and the female part 20 can be made of any suitable material, identical or different from each other, for example of metal or plastic, and in particular of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) preferably reinforced with glass fibers.

[0113] The fastening device also includes one or more connecting assemblies 39 which allow the lateral portion 9 of the trim side 8 to be fixed to the corresponding lateral face 5 of the body 2 and thus to lock the pivoting of the trim side 8 relative to the body 2. Each connecting assembly 39 includes at least one hooking piece capable of cooperating with the body 2 despite a variable relative positioning between the body 2 and the lateral portion 9 of the trim side 8.

[0114] Thus, these attachment pieces are chosen to accommodate tolerances related to their respective positioning. Indeed, depending on the size of the trim panel 8, which can be significant, and depending on its constituent material, which can be more or less flexible, two complementary attachment pieces of the connecting assembly 39 may not necessarily be perfectly positioned opposite each other. Despite this, the two attachment pieces of the connecting assembly 39 are able to cooperate with each other despite this variable relative positioning of the two attachment pieces, within the limits of manufacturing tolerances.

[0115] Several embodiments of these attachment pieces can be envisaged by a person skilled in the art, two of which have been shown in the attached figures.

[0116] A first embodiment has been illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. In this embodiment, the two attachment parts of the connecting assembly 39 comprise a loop band 42 and a hook band 43 of a self-gripping tape 44, by example of Velcro™ type. Of course, the positioning between the hook band 43 and the loop band 42 on the inner face 41 of the lateral portion of the cheek 2 and the lateral face 5 of the body 2 respectively, can be reversed with respect to the configuration shown.

[0117] The hook and loop fastener 44 preferably extends over substantially the entire height of the cover plate 8 and over a corresponding height on the side face 5 of the body 2. Thus, due to the significant height of the hook and loop fastener 44 and the width of the loop and hook bands 42 and 43, the two fastening pieces can cooperate with each other even if they are not perfectly opposite each other, the hook and loop fastener 44 ensuring its fastening function, even if the loop band 42 and the hook band 43 are offset from each other in height and / or width, as long as a portion of the hook band 43 is engaged with a portion of the loop band 42. The relative positioning tolerances of the two complementary fastening pieces are thus absorbed.

[0118] The aesthetic positioning of the side panel 8 on the speaker body 2 is ensured at the front by adjustable hinges 17, which precisely position the front of the side panel 8 on the front face 3 of the body 2. At the rear, the hook-and-loop fastener 44 merely locks the pivoting of the side panel 8 relative to the body 2 and holds the side panel 8 against the body 2 without precise positioning. The aesthetic imperfections resulting from this imprecise positioning are not bothersome to the user because they are limited to the less visible rear of the speaker. This makes mounting the side panel 8 onto the body 2 very easy for the user.

[0119] This embodiment of the connecting assembly 39 based on self-gripping tape 44 is simple and economical. It is perfectly suited for small-sized trim panels 8 and / or those made of lightweight material, particularly those made of felt or formfleece.

[0120] With such cladding panels made of flexible materials, it may be advantageous to stiffen the front portion 10 of the panel to ensure precise relative positioning of the hinge elements 17 attached to it. For this purpose, a linear stiffening element 45 can advantageously be provided on the inner face 22 of the front portion 10 of the panel 8. This linear stiffening element 45 preferably extends close to and in a direction substantially parallel to that connecting the two hinge elements 17 attached to the inner face 22.

[0121] When the facing 8 is larger in size and / or made of a heavier and more rigid material, for example of bent wood or of a rigid thermoformed plastic material, connecting assemblies 39 such as those shown in Figs 5 to 12 and 19 to 21 can advantageously be used.

[0122] In this embodiment, three connecting assemblies 39 are preferably used to link the lateral portion 9 of the cladding cheek 8 to the corresponding lateral face 5 of the body 2. These connecting assemblies 39 are preferably regularly distributed over the height of the cladding cheek 8, and each comprises two complementary attachment pieces which, for better understanding, have been shown in isolation in Figures 12 and 13.

[0123] The first of these fastening pieces is shown in the enlargement of [Fig. 9] and in [Fig. 12]. It is a latch 70 which is fixed to the inner face 41 of the lateral portion 9 of the cheek 8. For this purpose, the latch 70 preferably includes a mounting plate 46 with holes 47, which is intended to be glued against the inner face 41, for example in a recess 48 thereof. From this mounting plate 46, a tab 49 is raised, possibly reinforced by stiffening ribs 50, and whose end is pierced with an oblong hole 51. When the lateral portion 9 of the cover cheek 8 comes to cover the lateral face 5 of the body 2 by pivoting the cover cheek 8 around the hinge 17, the tab 49 of the latch 70 is directed towards the lateral face 5 of the body 2 and engages in a cavity 52 located opposite in the lateral face 5 of the body 2.Its oblong hole 51 is then found inside this cavity 52, as shown in [Fig.20].

[0124] The second attachment part of this connecting assembly 39 is shown in [Fig. 13]. It is a set screw 53 which has a smooth end 54, forming a cylindrical shank 55, and a threaded end 56. This set screw 53 is intended to be inserted into a threaded insert 57 of the body 2 which opens into the cavity 52 such that the smooth end 54 of the screw 53 can extend into the cavity 52 to a greater or lesser depth depending on the degree to which the threaded end 56 of the screw 53 is tightened or loosened in the threaded insert 57. In a less robust embodiment, the set screw 53 can be screwed directly into a threaded opening in the body 2, i.e. without using an insert.

[0125] When the lug 49 of the latch 70 is present in the cavity 52, the cylindrical rod 55 of the screw 53 can be engaged in the oblong hole 51 of the lug 49 by a translational movement in its longitudinal direction, obtained by simply screwing the headless screw 53. By this engagement of the cylindrical rod 55 in the oblong hole 51, the lug 49 is locked in the cavity 52, thus linking the lateral portion 9 of the cover plate 8 to the lateral face 5 of the body 2 and simultaneously locking the pivoting of the cover plate 8 relative to the body 2, as shown in [Fig.21].

[0126] This connection and locking mechanism are perfectly reversible and can be very easily removed by simply unscrewing the screw 53, which causes the cylindrical rod 55 to move in the opposite direction, thus freeing the tab 49 and its oblong hole 51, and allowing the user to easily remove the trim panel 8 to replace it with another.

[0127] In one embodiment, to prevent any micro-vibrations and shocks between the two mounting parts during the operation of the enclosure 1, which could generate annoying and audible unwanted noise, a second elastomer interface element 58 is interposed between the edges of the oblong hole 51 and the cylindrical rod 55 to prevent any direct contact between them. In the example shown, this second interface element 58 is an independent element that engages and mounts onto the edges of the oblong hole 51. It could, of course, be a coating directly overmolded onto the edges of the oblong hole 51 or onto the wall of the cylindrical rod 55.

[0128] Furthermore, the headless screw 53 could be threaded along its entire length and therefore also along the cylindrical rod 55. But it is preferably smooth at its end 54 which engages in the oblong hole 51 in order to avoid premature wear of the second interface element 58 made of elastomer, which could otherwise occur due to friction of the thread against the interface element 58 made of elastomer.

[0129] As in the previous embodiment, these connecting assemblies 39 allow for positioning tolerances. Indeed, by screwing the set screw 53 fully into the threaded insert 57, it is possible to compensate for incorrect longitudinal positioning of the tab, i.e., towards the front or rear of the body 2. Similarly, due to the oblong shape of the hole 51 in the tab 49, the cylindrical shank 55 of the set screw can engage in the oblong hole 51 even if there is a positioning offset between these two elements in the direction of the axis of the oblong hole 51. Play is thus obtained in two directions, which allows the two attachment parts of the connecting assembly 39 to cooperate with each other despite variable relative positioning within the manufacturing tolerances.

[0130] Furthermore, and despite this positioning tolerance, thanks to the presence of the second interface element 58 made of elastomer, the engagement of the cylindrical rod 55 in the oblong hole 51 is done without play, which makes it possible to avoid micro-vibrations which could otherwise be communicated to the entire enclosure.

[0131] In addition, in order to avoid any resonance of possible vibrations generated by the movements of the side panel 8, the enclosure 1 may advantageously also include one or more spacers 59 preferably made of foam, which may be melamine, for example rectangular in shape, arranged between the side face 5 of the body 2 and the inner face 41 of the side portion 9 of the side panel 8 and preferably distributed over at least part of the height and width of the side portion 9 of the side panel 8.

[0132] As shown, these spacers 59 can be secured, preferably by adhesives or bonding, inside a recess 60 formed in the lateral face 5 of the body 2. These spacers 59 protrude beyond these reinforcements 60 and extend towards the inner face 41 of the cover plate 8, so as to come into contact with it when the lateral portion 9 of the cover plate 8 covers the lateral face 5 of the body 2 after pivoting of the hinge 17 and the connecting assembly 39 locks this pivoting. Obviously, a reversed configuration, in which the spacers 59 would be secured to the inner face 41 of the lateral portion 9 of the cover plate 8 and would extend towards the lateral face 5 of the body 2, is also conceivable.

[0133] Advantageously, a composite acoustic insulation block 61 is disposed directly on the cladding side 8.

[0134] As shown in [Fig.26] and in order to enhance the effectiveness of these foam spacers 59, one or more acoustic insulation composite blocks 61 can be added to the inner face 41 of the lateral portion 9 of the cladding cheek 8 so as to offset the inherent resonances of the cladding cheeks 8.

[0135] These acoustic insulation blocks 61 are preferably made of an EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) type material, or of a thermoplastic polyolephin type, or of a composite type composed, for example, of a Butyl-Aluminum-Foam (BAM) structure. They are attached, preferably by means of adhesives or by bonding, to the inner face 41 of the lateral portion 9 of the side panel 8. Such acoustic insulation blocks 61 can advantageously be used when the side panels 8 are made of a rigid material, in particular wood or rigid thermoformed plastic, because these materials provide limited natural damping and resonate strongly. Damping of the inherent resonances of the side panels 8 more effective than that provided by the foam spacers 59 alone may then be necessary.When the cheek piece 8 is made of a soft and naturally cushioning material, for example thermoformed felt of the "formfleece" type, the foam spacers 59 may be sufficient.

[0136] When the trim side 8 has an extension 15 intended to cover the upper part of the side face 5 of the body 2 which contains a loudspeaker, for example of the "tweeter" type 7, an additional fixing means 62 may be provided at this level.

[0137] This may simply be a self-gripping strip or, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 24, portions of self-gripping tape 44, preferably two in number, each formed of a portion of looped tape 42, for example attached by gluing to the lateral face 5 of the body 2, and a portion of tape with hooks 43, for example attached by adhesives and / or gluing on the inner face 63 of the extension 15, or vice versa.

[0138] The trim panel 8 being precisely positioned on the front face 3 of the body 2. Thanks to the hinges 17, the additional fastening means 62 does not need to ensure precise positioning of the extension 15, which extends along the side panel 8. Portions of hook-and-loop tape 44 thus constitute a particularly advantageous additional fastening means, as they are economical, easy for the user to operate, and accommodate the relative positioning tolerances of their two additional fastening pieces as explained above. However, although not shown, other additional fastening means 62 could also be used, including fastening means comprising a tab 49 and a set screw 53.

[0139] In the case where the enclosure 1 has an additional trim side 14 separate from the trim side 8, as in the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 5, 22 and 23, an additional fixing means 62 must also be used to ensure that this additional trim side 14 is held on the upper part of the side face 5 of the body 2.

[0140] Since the additional trim piece 14 is small and therefore lightweight, the additional fastening means 62 can, as before, be formed of sections of hook and loop tape 44, preferably two in number, attached preferably by adhesives and / or gluing and / or stapling and arranged near the lateral edges of the additional trim piece 14, over substantially its entire height. One of the attachment pieces of these sections of hook and loop tape 44, for example a section of loop tape 42, is attached to the lateral face 5 of the body 2, while the other attachment piece is attached opposite it to the inner face 64 of the additional trim piece 14.

[0141] The additional trim panel 14 being independent of the trim panel 8, it is necessary to ensure correct positioning of the latter on the lateral face 5 of the body 2. When the additional fastening means 62 does not perform this function, as is the case, for example, with the portions of self-gripping tape 44 in the embodiments shown, the enclosure 1 may advantageously include a positioning device 65 for the additional facing 14. This positioning device 65 is, for example, made up of a projecting element 66, located either on the inner face 64 of the additional facing 14 or on the lateral face 5 of the body 2, and a cavity 67 provided to receive the projecting element 66 and formed opposite it, respectively in the lateral face 5 of the body 2 or in the inner face 64 of the additional facing 14, the engagement of the protruding element 66 in the cavity 67 serving as a reference for the positioning of the additional trim side 14.

[0142] This projecting element 66 can be an added element or be made in one piece, for example by molding, with the wall from which it rises. In the embodiment of Figures 22 and 23, the projecting element 66 is, for example, a block 68 of substantially parallelepiped shape which is glued against the inner face 64 of the complementary trim side 14 and which extends substantially vertically near a portion of hook and loop tape 44. To ensure correct positioning of the complementary trim side 14, this block 68 cooperates with a cavity 67 provided opposite it in the lateral face 5 of the body 2 into which it engages when the complementary trim side 14 is fixed to the body 2 by means of hook and loop tape 44, as shown in [Fig. 23].

[0143] Since the additional side panels 14 are interchangeable, the body 2 of the enclosure 1 can advantageously have a cavity 67 even when the additional side panel 14 or the extension 15 does not have a protruding element 66 as shown in [Fig. 24]. It can thus adapt to any type of additional side panel 14 that could be fitted by the user.

[0144] Similarly, as shown in [Fig.4], the side face 5 of the body 2 preferably includes a cavity 52 and a threaded insert 57 in which a headless screw 53 is engaged, even if the trim side 8 initially mounted on the enclosure 1 is fixed there by means of a hook and loop tape 44.

[0145] For the description to be complete, an assembly sequence of an example of a trim side panel 8 on the body 2 of an enclosure 1 has been shown in Figures 17 to 21.

[0146] To assemble this device, the user begins by mounting the front portion 10 of the side panel 8 onto the front face 3 of the body 2. To do this, they engage the recess 21 of the female parts 20 onto the protruding rod 19 of the male parts 18. This engagement is facilitated by the advantageous configuration of the protruding rods 19, which are short and substantially hemispherical, thus allowing easy engagement of all the hinges 17 simultaneously along the entire height of the enclosure 1, even if the front portion 10 is slightly inclined. The lateral portion 9 of the side panel 8 is then separated from the lateral face 5 of the body 2, as shown in Figures 17 and 19.

[0147] The user then pivots the trim panel 8 by means of the hinges 17 to bring its lateral portion 9 closer to the lateral face 5 of the body 2 as shown in Figures 18 and 20. During this pivoting, the tabs 49 of the latches 70 located on the inner face 41 of the lateral portion 9 of the panel 8 engage in the cavities 52 located opposite them in the lateral face 5 of the body 2. The oblong holes 51 of the The lugs 49 are then located substantially opposite the smooth end 54 of the headless screws 53.

[0148] The user then screws the headless screws 53 to move them within the threaded inserts 57 of the body 2 until their cylindrical shanks 55 engage in the oblong holes 51 and pass through them. In this configuration, shown in [Fig. 21], the lateral portion 9 of the side panel 8 is fixed to the lateral face 5 of the body 2 by the connecting assemblies 39, and the pivoting of the side panel 8 by means of the hinges 17 is prevented. The assembly of the side panel 8 is then complete.

[0149] The invention thus makes it possible to obtain a sound enclosure with at least one removable and interchangeable side panel, easily and quickly adapted to large and non-planar panels made of wood, ABS, Formfleece, or other materials, which are sound-neutral and correctly aligned with the front of the enclosure. Furthermore, the mounting system described is compatible with these different materials insofar as it can adapt to the various mechanical stresses applied by the side panel 8 to the body 2.

Claims

Demands

1. A sound enclosure (1) comprising a body (2) and at least one removable and interchangeable side panel (8), characterized in that this side panel (8) has a rear portion and a front portion extending over at least one plane, and in that this side panel (8) is fixed to the body (2) of the enclosure (1) by means of a fastening device comprising: - at least one hinge (17) for connecting and positioning the front portion of the side panel (8), said hinge (17) comprising: . a male part (18) with a projecting shank (19), and .a female part (20) with a receiving housing (21) for the protruding rod (19); and - at least one connecting assembly (39) of the rear portion of the cladding cheek (8) on the body (2), said connecting assembly (39) comprising at least one hooking part capable of cooperating with the body (2) despite a variable relative positioning between the body (2) and the rear portion of the cladding cheek (8).

2. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rear portion and the front portion extend along a straight or curved plane.

3. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front portion is a front portion (10) covering a front face (3) of the body (2) while the rear portion is a lateral portion (9) covering a lateral face (5) of the body (2).

4. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding rod (19) of the male part (18) is substantially hemispherical in shape, which gives the connecting and positioning hinge (17) a ball joint character.

5. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge (17) also includes a first interface element (28) made of elastomer, interposed between the protruding rod (19) and the receiving housing (21) so as to avoid direct contact between them.

6. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first interface element (28) is an elastomeric coating on the protruding stem (19) of the male part (18) or in the housing of reception (21) of the female part (20), or an independent element which engages on the protruding rod (19) of the male part (18) or in the receiving housing (21) of the female part (20).

7. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge (17) is adjustable in at least two directions and so as to be able to adjust the position of the front portion (10) of the trim side (8) on the body (2).

8. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male part (18) or the female part (20) of the hinge (17), located on the body (2), comprises a mounting plate (30) pierced with several oblong holes (31), oriented perpendicular to the pivot axis of the hinge, oblong holes (31) through which the mounting plate (30) is screwed onto the body (2).

9. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male part (18) of the hinge (17) further comprises a tubular support (33), internally tapped and open at one of its ends (34), and in that the projecting shank (19) of said male part (18) extends into a threaded shaft (36) which is engaged and screwed into said tubular support (33), the tubular support (33) and the threaded shaft (36) being oriented along the pivot axis of the hinge (17).

10. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the male part (18) of the hinge (17) further comprises a collar (37), located between the protruding rod (19) and the threaded shaft (36), and a spacer (38) disposed between the tubular support (33) and said collar (37).

11. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting assembly (39) comprises a loop band (42) and a hook band (43) or a self-gripping tape (44).

12. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to claim 3, wherein said connecting assembly (39) comprises a latch (70) having a tab (49) pierced with an oblong hole (51) and fixed on the lateral portion (9) of the trim side (8), the tab (49) being able to be inserted into a cavity (52) of the body (2) so that a cylindrical rod (55) engages in said oblong hole (51) to hold the lateral portion (9) on the body (2).

13. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to claim 12, wherein a second interface element (58) made of elastomer is interposed between the oblong hole (51) and the cylindrical rod (55) so as to avoid direct contact between them.

14. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of claims 3, 12, or 13, wherein at least one foam spacer (59) is disposed on the side face (5) of the body (2) or on the inner face (41) of the side portion (9) of the side panel (8), and extending respectively towards the inner face (41) of the side portion (9) of the side panel (8) or the side face (5) of the body (2) until it comes into contact with it when at least one connecting assembly (39) locks the pivoting of the side panel (8) relative to the body (2).

15. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one acoustic insulation composite block (61) is arranged on the inner face (41) of the facing (8) so as to limit the self-resonances of the facing (8), which are made of rigid materials.

16. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the side panel (8) has an extension (15) intended to cover the upper part of the side face (5) of the body (2), said upper part containing another loudspeaker.

17. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein it comprises at least one additional trim side panel (14) intended to cover the upper part or part of the side face (5) of the body (2), said upper part containing another loudspeaker, said additional trim side panel (14) being independent of said trim side panel (8), the retention of said additional trim side panel (14) on the upper part of the side face (5) being ensured by an additional fastening means (62).

18. Acoustic enclosure (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the enclosure (1) comprises a positioning device (65) for the additional trim panel (14), for example a projecting element (66) located on the inner face (64) of the additional trim panel (14) or on the lateral face (5) of the body (2), and a cavity (67) provided to receive the projecting element (66) and formed opposite it, respectively in the lateral face (5) of the body (2) or in the inner face (64) of the complementary trim side (14), the engagement of the protruding element (66) in the cavity (67) serves as a reference for the positioning of the complementary trim side (14).

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