Abstract:
An apparatus for minimizing sound vibrations in a television cabinet is disclosed. Specifically, the apparatus reduces the amount of vibrations generated by a loudspeaker that are transmitted into a television cabinet while maximizing sound energy transmitted from the cabinet. The apparatus includes an enclosure pod for accommodating at least one loudspeaker that is mounted in the television cabinet using vibration reducing devices.

Description:
The invention generally relates to an apparatus for mounting a loudspeaker in a television cabinet, and more particularly, to an apparatus for reducing sound vibrations transmitted from at least one loudspeaker into the television cabinet structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional projection televisions are typically housed in heavy wooden cabinets and are accompanied by high performance loudspeakers. Such heavy wooden cabinets usually have isolation enclosures formed therein to accommodate the high performance loudspeakers. The heavy weight of the typical projection television optics package and the wooden cabinet together prevent most vibration problems associated with the loudspeakers. 
     Presently, however, the market is demanding smaller television cabinet sizes while at the same time desiring larger screen sizes. Improvements in technology have made light-weight optics packages possible, resulting in the production of larger television screens. To meet the demand for smaller television cabinets, these improved projection television packages are being mounted in compact, stylized television cabinets known as “direct view” television cabinets. Such direct view cabinets are typically constructed using injection-molded plastic parts and are lighter and more aesthetically pleasing than heavy wooden cabinets. An undesirable result of the transition from heavier wooden cabinets to lighter plastic cabinets is the transmission of vibrations generated by the loudspeakers into the television cabinet. Such vibrations can deleteriously affect the optical components of the projection television resulting in unsatisfactory viewing conditions. 
     Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a vibration-reducing loudspeaker mounting apparatus for mounting loudspeakers in a television cabinet. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by an apparatus for reducing sound vibrations generated by at least one loudspeaker in a television cabinet having optical components mounted therein. 
     Specifically, an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention comprises an enclosure pod for mounting at least one loudspeaker therein, the pod having a plurality of mounting joints for mounting the pod in the television cabinet. The enclosure pod contacts the television cabinet only at the plurality of mounting joints, leaving a substantial air gap therebetween. Furthermore, the enclosure pod only contacts the television cabinet through vibration damping rubber isolation rings. As such, there is no direct contact between the enclosure pod and the television cabinet thereby reducing the direct transmission of vibrations generated by the loudspeakers into the television cabinet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a loudspeaker mounting apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 depicts a detailed view of a vibration reducing mounting joint; 
     FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 mounted inside a television cabinet; and 
     FIG. 4 depicts the apparatus of FIG. 1 mounted inside a television cabinet with a speaker mask. 
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 depicts a cross sectional view of a loudspeaker mounting apparatus  100  for reducing the transmission of vibrations generated by a loudspeaker into a television cabinet. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below in regard to a compact, stylized television cabinet (hereinafter referred to as a “direct view” television cabinet), it should be understood that the present invention can be employed in television cabinets in general. Furthermore, the present invention can accommodate several loudspeaker configurations that include, but are not limited to, one midrange loudspeaker and one tweeter per audio channel. 
     The apparatus  100  is employed in a television cabinet  102  to reduce the transmission of vibrations generated by a loudspeaker  108  into the television cabinet  102 . In one embodiment of the invention, the television cabinet  102  comprises a direct view form-factor cabinet that accommodates a projection style television. The television cabinet  102  is constructed using, illustratively, injection molded plastic parts that are prone to the transmission of vibrations which can deleteriously affect vibration sensitive components (not shown) such as the optical, electrical, and/or mechanical components of the projection television. Such vibration sensitive components include, but are not limited to, mirrors, light sources, and the like, which if vibrated, can cause the television picture to shake or momentarily become out of focus. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus  100  of the present invention comprises an enclosure pod  104  having a speaker section  110 , a flange  120  surrounding the speaker section  110 , and a plurality of mounting joints  106  (two are shown). The loudspeaker  108  is mounted to the speaker section  110  of the enclosure pod  104 . The enclosure pod  104  prevents sound energy generated behind the loudspeaker  108  from propagating into the television cabinet  102 . The enclosure pod  104  is mounted to the television cabinet  102  so as to contact the cabinet  102  only at each of the plurality of mounting joints  106 , leaving a substantial air gap  122  therebetween. The air gap  122  reduces the fluid structure interaction between the enclosure pod  104  and the television cabinet  102  thereby reducing the direct transmission of vibrations. 
     The television cabinet  102  includes a speaker mask  112  mounted to the cabinet  102  in front of the enclosure pod  104 . A damping member  114  is mounted on the flange  120  of the enclosure pod  104  and is disposed between the speaker mask  112  and the enclosure pod  104 . The speaker mask  112  presses against the damping member and forms an air channel  124  for both damping vibrations induced in the mask  112  and directing the sound energy outward away from the television cabinet  102 . The damping member  114  comprises a rubber bulb channel gasket or like type elastic device suitable for damping vibrations transmitted from the loudspeaker to the speaker mask  112 . 
     The speaker mask  112  is constructed using, illustratively, injection-molded plastic that is prone to the transmission of vibrations. The mask  112  includes a plurality of mounting posts  116  (one is shown) for mounting the mask  112  to the television cabinet  102 . Each of the plurality of mounting posts  116  presses into a rubber grommet  118 , or like type elastic device, that is disposed between each of the posts  116  and the television cabinet  102 . As such, the rubber grommets  118  prevent vibrations induced in the speaker mask  112  from being transmitted into the television cabinet  102 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts a detailed view of one of the plurality of mounting joints  106 . A first rubber isolation ring  206  is disposed between the enclosure pod  104  and the television cabinet  102  to prevent hard plastic contact therebetween. The enclosure pod  104  is mounted to the television cabinet via a mounting screw  202  or like type securing device. A second rubber isolation ring  204  is disposed between the head of the mounting screw  202  and the enclosure pod  104 . The enclosure pod  104  contacts the television cabinet  102  only at each of the plurality of mounting joints  106  and only through the first and second rubber isolation rings  206  and  204 . As such, the direct transmission of vibrations from the enclosure pod  104  to the television cabinet  102  are thereby reduced. Those skilled in the art can readily devise alternative substitutes for either or both of the first or second rubber isolation rings  206  and  204 , which include any elastic device. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of the loudspeaker mounting apparatus  100  of the present invention mounted in the television cabinet  102 . The enclosure pod  104  in mounted in a loudspeaker enclosure section  302  of the television cabinet  102 . FIG. 4 illustrates the apparatus  100  of the present invention mounted in the television cabinet  102  with the speaker mask  112 . 
     Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.