Speaker apparatus

A speaker apparatus includes a speaker and a sound box. The sound box is shaped like a wine barrel and includes arced side boards and parallel top and bottom boards coupled to upper and lower ends of the side boards, respectively. The sound box is divided by at least an isolating board into air chambers interconnected with one another via at least an air aperture formed in the isolating board, and at least an air venting hole is formed through at least one of the side boards so as to communicate the air chambers with the outside. The speaker is installed on the top board via an installation hole formed therein. The interconnected air chambers and side boards produce air cushions corresponding to resonant frequency sections of the speaker, thereby enabling the speaker to reproduce original audio sounds without interfering with a successively formed air cushion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a speaker apparatus, and more particularly to a speaker apparatus having a plurality of air chambers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Speakers are used in various types of communications and entertainment equipment, such as radio and television receivers, and stereo home entertainment systems. The most common speaker apparatus is the dynamic speaker apparatus that consists of a frame, permanent magnet, soft iron core, voice coil, and a cone. The frame supports the cone and permanent magnet assembly. The voice coil consists of an insulated wire wound around a plastic bobbin. One end of the bobbin is attached to the cone and the body of the bobbin slides over the soft iron core. Although this design is well-established, the industry is constantly experimenting with new techniques and materials to improve sound quality, frequency response, and power output.

FIG. 1illustrates a cutaway view of a conventional speaker apparatus having a sound box100with an independent air chamber101formed therein. An air-venting hole102is formed on a sidewall surface of the sound box100interconnected with the air chamber101of the sound box100. At least an installation hole103is formed on top of the air-venting hole102to accommodate a speaker120. The speaker120consists of a frame122and a cone124disposed within the frame122. Permanent magnets126are disposed at the rear of the frame122, and, close to an end of permanent magnets126, the cone124has a moving coil128. Additionally, a damper130is further disposed between the moving coil128and the frame122. Upon an audio-frequency signal being input into the speaker120, the moving coil128is induced with a corresponding electric current, thus causing the moving coil128to be an electric magnet, such that the permanent magnets126attract the moving coil128rearward (to the left in the fig.) and concurrently pull on the damper130. Then, after the current and magnetic force cease, the moving coil128and the cone124springs forward (to the right in the fig.) by the elasticity of the damper130, thus enabling the cone124to produce sound by compressing the air in front of the cone124.

In the theory of sound creation of the conventional speaker apparatus as described above, the reason the conventional speaker apparatus employs the construction of the sound box as depicted inFIG. 1is due to the inability to obtain a suitable damper130that provides adequate elasticity within the range of the resonance frequency of the speaker120. Generally speaking, an overly rigid damper would cause the cone124to spring back too soon, thus failing to produce good low frequencies, i.e. the bass sound. Conversely, a too elastic damper does not enable the cone124to spring back quick enough in order to produce good high frequencies, i.e. the treble sound. As a solution, it is common practice for conventional speakers to have less rigid dampers installed on the sound box100, so that permanent magnets126can be used to attract the moving coil128rearward to allow the cone124to compress the air at the rear of the speaker120via an aperture132formed in the frame122, thereby producing a nearly instant air cushion to aid the damper130in producing better high audio frequencies. The air cushion described above is generated and then dissipated almost instantly through the air venting hole102after completing the intended task. In theory, in the design of a conventional speaker apparatus, different pressures are required to produce different audio frequencies in each of the resonant frequency sections in order to provide optimal response. In practice, however, it is difficult for a single stationary air chamber101disposed within the sound box100to produce the different air cushions required for producing the desired audio frequencies. And, even if it were possible to produce differing air cushions from a single sound box100, the air venting hole102with a fixed diameter may not be able to vent the differing air cushions as quickly as required, such that interference among successive air cushions may occur and thus degrade the sound quality of the speaker.

To address this issue, the inventor of the present invention previously proposed a solution that improved on the limitations associated with prior art speakers, as illustrated inFIG. 2. New Design Publication No. 486219 owned by the applicant has disclosed a speaker apparatus characterized by defining a plurality of air chambers22a,22b,22c,22dwithin the sound box20of the speaker21, wherein the plurality of air chambers22a,22b,22c,22dare provided with a plurality of air venting hole23a,23b,23c,23dformed therein, respectively, and communicate with the outside, with the air chamber22dhaving an additional air venting hole23e, and air apertures24a,24b,24ccommunicating with adjacent ones of the air chambers. At least one of the plurality of air chambers22a,22b,22c,22denables the rear of the speaker21to generate instant air cushions matching at least one of the resonant frequency sections to produce the desired audio frequencies of the speaker21, while allowing the air cushions to effectively disperse via air venting holes23a,23b,23c,23d,23eand thus not interfere with successively formed air cushions, thereby providing suitable and detached air cushions for matching with each of the resonant frequency sections to produce the desired audio frequencies of the speaker21. However, the sound box20is a rectangular-shaped structure having parallel and perpendicular wall surfaces formed within, which does not match with the shape of the cone of the speaker21, causing weak expansion capability and compromising the efficacy of the audio speaker21. Although it is possible to produce the sound box20using new raw materials to provide a shape that better conforms to the cone of the speaker, this further increases the manufacturing costs.

As such, it is desirable to provide an improved speaker apparatus that is capable of enhancing the overall efficacy of the speaker while reducing the cost of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In view of the above problems, the present invention proposes a speaker apparatus including a speaker and a sound box, the sound box having the shape of a wine barrel and formed by a plurality of arced side boards, a top board coupled to the upper ends of the side boards, and an opposite bottom board coupled to the lower ends of the side boards, the top and bottom boards being parallel to each other, wherein the sound box is divided by at least an isolating board into a plurality of air chambers, wherein the plurality of air chambers are interconnected with one another via at least an air aperture formed through the at least an isolating board and at least an air venting hole is formed through at least one of the arced side boards for communicating the plurality of air chambers with the outside, and the top board having at least an installation hole formed therein for installing a speaker therein. Further, the wine barrel shape of the sound box means that the diameter in the middle of the sound box is larger than the diameters of the upper and lower portions thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least an air venting hole is formed in at least one of the arced side boards in position corresponding to at least one of the plurality of air chambers.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least an air aperture and the at least an air venting hole each is further mounted with an one-way valve for limiting air flow to a single intended direction.

Compared to the conventional speakers, the speaker apparatus proposed by the present invention is characterized by employing a sound box formed by a finished oak barrel, and further using the arced side boards formed in the sound box to match with the shape of the cone of the speaker, thereby enabling the speaker to reproduce original audio sounds and facilitating reclamation of used oak buckets or barrels, thus overcoming the drawbacks of compromised audio efficacy and providing reduced manufacturing costs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention. The details of the specification may be changed on the basis of differing points and applications, and numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The First Embodiment

FIGS. 3A,3B, andFIG. 4respectively depict a side cutaway view, front cutaway view and a three-dimensional outlined view of the speaker apparatus in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the speaker apparatus of the present invention consists of a sound box31and a speaker32. The sound box31is of the shape of a wine barrel and is formed by a plurality of arced side boards311, a top board312connecting with the upper ends of the side boards311, and a bottom board313connecting with the lower ends of the side boards311, the top and bottom boards312,313being parallel with each other, wherein the wine barrel shape means that the diameter in the middle of the sound box31is larger than the diameters of the upper and lower portions thereof. At least an installation hole310is formed in the top board312for mounting a speaker therein. In this embodiment, the sound box31is divided by two isolating boards34into three air chambers33a,33b,33c, wherein the isolating board34has a plurality of air aperture341a(for the left isolating board),341b(for the right isolating board) formed therein. The air chambers33a,33b,33care interconnected with one another via at least one of the plurality of air aperture341a,341b. In practice, at least an isolating board34divides the sound box31into the plurality of air chambers33a,33b,33c. Air venting holes314a,314bin communication with the air chambers33a,33bare formed on the arc side boards311in position corresponding to air chamber33aand33b, and an air venting hole314cis formed on the bottom board313of the sound box31. The air venting holes314a,314b,314care in communication with the outside. Note that the number and configuration of air apertures341a,341band air venting holes314a,314b,314cto be formed on isolating boards34and the side boards311may vary depending on the actual requirements. The speaker32is mounted in the at least an installation hole310of the top board312, the speaker32having a cone321with the capable of producing vibration, the axis of the speaker32being perpendicular to the installation plane of isolating boards34.

The number of air chambers33a,33b,33ccorresponds to the resonant frequency ranges of the speaker32. In this embodiment, the sound box31is divided into three air chambers33a,33b,33c, and there are three different frequency sections, A, B, C each corresponding to a resonant frequency range of the speaker32. In the A frequency section of the resonant frequency range of the speaker32, the cone321of the speaker32moved backward and generates a nearly instant air pressure wave into air chamber33a, and, before the generated air pressure wave is dispersed through the air venting hole314aand the air aperture341a, an air cushion is formed that enabling sounds to be produced by the speaker32in the A frequency section. The air cushion is then vented out through the air venting hole314aand the air aperture341aeffectively without causing interference with successively formed air cushions.

In the B frequency section of the speaker resonant frequency range, the relative short wavelength of the cone321of the speaker32resulting from compressing the air in the rear of the speaker321begins to expand into air chamber33bvia the air venting hole341abefore an air cushion can be generated in air chamber33a. The wavelength of the air flow is not short enough to allow it to keep expanding into air chamber33c. Then, a less dense air cushion is formed in the interconnected air chambers33a,33bto allow the speaker32to produce sounds in the B frequency section. The air cushion is then effectively vented out through air venting holes314a,314band the air aperture341bwithout causing interference with successively formed air cushion.

Similarly, in the C frequency section of the speaker resonant frequency range, corresponding air cushions are formed in the interconnected air chambers33a,33band33c, respectively, and thereafter air cushions are dissipated through air venting hole314a,314b,314cafter completing their intended tasks, to thereby prevent interference with successively formed air cushions.

The Second Embodiment

FIG. 5is a side cutaway view illustrating the speaker apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this and the first embodiment lies in the addition of an one-way valve in each of the air venting holes and some of the air apertures for limiting air flow to an intended direction.

As shown, the speaker apparatus of the present invention consists of a sound box41and a speaker42. The sound box41is of the shape of a wine barrel and is formed by a plurality of arced side boards411, a top board412connecting with the upper ends of the side boards311, and a bottom board413connecting with the lower ends of the side boards311, the top and bottom boards412,413being parallel to each other. Once again, the shape of a wine barrel means that the diameter in the middle of the sound box41is larger than the diameters of the upper and lower portions thereof. At least an installation hole410is formed in the top board412for mounting a speaker therein. The sound box41is divided by a pair of isolating boards44into three air chambers43a,43b,43c. At least one of the isolating boards44has a pair of air apertures441a,441bformed therein, respectively. The air chambers43a,43b,43care interconnect with one another via at least one of the air apertures441a,441b. A plurality of air venting holes414a,414bin communication with the outside are formed in at least one of the arced side boards411in position corresponding to at least one of the air chamber43a,43b. Also, an air venting hole414cin communication with the outside is formed in the bottom board413of the sound box41, wherein each of the air venting holes414a,414b,414cand air apertures441a,441bmay optionally include an one-way valve40, and the number and configuration of air apertures441a,441band air venting holes414a,414b,414cto be formed in the isolating boards44and the side board411may vary depending on the actual requirements. The speaker42is mounted in the at least an installation hole410of the top board412, the speaker42having a cone421with the capable of producing vibration, the axis of the speaker42being perpendicular to the installation plane of isolating boards44.

As with the first embodiment, the number of air chambers43a,43b,43ccorresponds to the resonant frequency ranges of the speaker42. Here, with the sound box41is divided into three air chambers43a,43b,43c, there are three different frequency sections, A, B, C, each corresponding to a resonant frequency range of the speaker42. In the A frequency section of the speaker resonant frequency range, the cone421of the speaker42moves backward and generates a nearly instant air pressure wave into the air chamber33a, and, before the generated air pressure is dispersed through the air venting holes414aand the air apertures441a, an air cushion enabling the speaker42to produce sounds in the A frequency section is formed. The air cushion is then effectively vented out through the air venting hole414aand the air aperture441awithout causing interference with a successively formed air cushion.

In this embodiment, each of the air venting holes414a,414band air apertures441a,441b,441cmay optionally include an one-way valve40for limiting air flow to an intended direction and further ensuring full dispersion of the air cushion so as to avoid interference caused thereby. Also note that the number of the air chambers43a,43b,43cmay vary depending on actual requirements and design choices.

Compared to conventional speakers, the speaker apparatus proposed by the present invention is characterized by employing a sound box formed by a finished oak bucket or a used arc-shaped wine barrel whose contours match with the cone shaped speaker, thus allowing original audio sounds to be reproduced and also facilitating reclamation of used oak barrels or buckets, thus aiding with environmental protection and reducing manufacturing costs.

While illustrative embodiments are provided in the above description, such embodiments are for illustration of the principles and functions of the present invention only and they are not to be construed restrictively. Various modifications and variations of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and yet still fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.