Loudspeaker Rigging Links for Fast Splay Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loudspeaker rigging systems require time-consuming and labor-intensive processes to adjust the splay angle between speakers, which becomes increasingly difficult with heavier stacks, and may lead to equipment damage and safety hazards due to the need to lift and align each pair of speakers.
Innovation Solution
A loudspeaker rigging system with upwardly extending connecting links and a frame assembly that allows for easy adjustment and locking of splay angles using pivot and splay adjustment links, facilitated by gripping knobs and quick-release pins, enabling precise alignment and secure locking without lifting the entire stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the splay angle is adjusted by lifting and aligning each pair of loudspeakers using downwardly extendible links, then the splay angle can be adjusted, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially with heavier stacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the connecting links upwardly extendible from the subjacent loudspeaker instead of downwardly extendible from the upper loudspeaker. This reversal allows the links to be extended and locked into place before lifting the stack, eliminating the need to lift and align each pair of loudspeakers individually during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The upwardly extendible links allow the splay angle to be predetermined and set in advance by extending the links to the desired angle and locking them with pins before the loudspeaker stack is lifted. This preliminary setting of the splay angle eliminates time-consuming adjustments during the lifting process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the splay angle is adjusted by lifting and aligning each pair of loudspeakers, then the splay angle can be adjusted, but the process becomes increasingly difficult and dangerous as the number and weight of rigged loudspeakers increases
Solution Approach 1:
By reversing the direction of link extension to upwardly extendible, the patent eliminates the need to manually lift and align heavy loudspeaker stacks during splay angle adjustment. The links are extended and locked in place while the stack remains on the ground, making the operation safe and easy regardless of stack weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The upwardly extendible links with pin holes and locking pins enable the splay angle to be set through a self-aligning process where the links naturally extend to the predetermined angle and can be locked without requiring complex manual manipulation or lifting of heavy equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the splay angle is adjusted by lifting and aligning each pair of loudspeakers, then the splay angle can be adjusted, but equipment damage and injury may occur due to the heavy bouncing stack
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the dangerous lifting and aligning process by using upwardly extendible links that are set on the ground before lifting. This prevents equipment damage and operator injury that would otherwise occur from handling heavy, bouncing loudspeaker stacks during splay angle adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
By predetermining and locking the splay angle using the upwardly extendible links with pin holes before lifting the stack, the patent eliminates the risk of equipment damage and injury associated with adjusting splay angles on heavy, bouncing stacks during the lifting process.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional downwardly extendible links are used, then the links can be extended into receiving channels, but the pin holes in side frames become misaligned with pin holes in links due to stack bouncing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the link extension direction to upwardly extendible, which allows the links to be extended and pinned in place on the ground where the stack is stable. This eliminates the misalignment problem caused by stack bouncing that occurs when trying to align pin holes during lifting with conventional downwardly extendible links.
Data Source
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AI summary
A loudspeaker rigging system having upwardly extending connecting links comprises splay adjustment and pivot links slidingly disposed in splay adjustment and pivot link stowing channels in a frame structure for the sides of a loudspeaker in a stack of loudspeakers, the splay adjustment and pivot links upwardly movable from stowed to linking positions, in the linking position the splay adjustment and pivot links linkable with locking pin holes in the bottom of the frame structure of a superjacent loudspeaker, the splay adjustment link having a plurality of splay angle slots of various lengths, the splay angle slots aligned with a plurality of splay angle selection pin holes in the frame structure, such that upon insertion of a linking pin in a selected splay angle selection pin hole and corresponding aligned splay angle slot the splay angle link may be raised upward to a selected splay angle.