Abstract:
A flangeless mounting system, suitable for in-wall speakers and other objects, includes a panel that replaces a substantial section of wallboard instead of being installed behind the wallboard. In preferred embodiments a rim extends outwardly from a first surface of the panel by a distance of less than ½ inch, and preferably by only ⅛ inch or even 1/16 inch. The face of the object can be quite large, up to 40 in 2  or more, and still be relatively small with respect to the panel. Panels are contemplated that have a width at least two, three or more times that of the face of the object, and along with optional wings are wider than the stud separation in the wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is wall mounted speakers and other items. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Speakers, plasma screens, and other objects are traditionally mounted to a wall in one of two ways. One method uses a bracket that surrounds a cutout in the wallboard. The bracket typically has a flange that overlays the front surface of the wallboard, and extends away from the cutout on the top, bottom, and sides. A decorative cover is then used to hide the flange. In a more modern version shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,129 to Hecht (February 2006), the flange is itself decorative, which obviates the need for a separate cover. The other traditional method of mounting an object to a wall is to extend the object housing from the front side of the wallboard. An example of that approach is the surface mounted loudspeaker and bracket of U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,840 to Cowan et al. (January 2005). 
     The &#39;129 and &#39;840 patents, and all other referenced extrinsic materials are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Were a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
     A much more recent development is flush mounting of wall mounted objects, which to some individuals provides a more desirable appearance. Flush mounting is accomplished by cutting a hole in the wall board, inserting a bracket having a rim that approximates the thickness of the wallboard, and then spackling up to the edge of the rim. In prior art  FIGS. 1A and 1B , for example, a panel  10  is placed behind the wallboard  30 . The speaker housing  16  extends out the back side of the panel  10  (i.e. inside the wall), and a bracket  14  coupled to the panel  10  has a rim portion  14 A that extends above the panel  10  by a distance  15 . The installer then spackles along the front side of the wallboard  30  up to the edge of the rim  14 . 
     Unfortunately, the current flush mounting techniques have several drawbacks. One drawback is that they can be extremely difficult to install in an already finished wall. Since the wallboard juxtaposes the rim portion of the bracket, any defect in size or positioning of the bracket can be readily observed without considerable skill during the spackling stage. Even in a new construction situation, the fact that the critical taping and spackling is performed right at the connection between the wallboard and the rim, means that the defect is readily apparent to even a casual observer. A third drawback is that positioning of the panel behind the wallboard reduces what may be already very limited space for the speaker. 
     Thus, there is still a need for flush-mount speaker systems and methods that facilitate installation, and provide greater room for a speaker housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for flangeless speaker and other object mounts, in which the joints between the object panel and the wallboard are placed at a distance from the speaker opening. 
     In preferred embodiments the opening has a rim that extends outwardly from a first surface of the panel by a distance of less than ½ inch, and preferably by only ⅛ inch or even 1/16 inch. The openings can be quite large, ranging from 20 in 2  up to 40 in 2 , 80 in 2 , or more, but are preferably still relatively small with respect to the panel and preferably no more than half of a length of the panel. Panels are contemplated that have a width at least two, three or more times that of the opening, and along with optional wings are wider than the stud separation in the wall. It is also contemplated that panel has multiple openings, preferably two openings and one opening with an area of at least 20 in 2 . Panel has a preferred thickness of ¼ inch. 
     The rim is preferably part of a bracket installed in the opening, the bracket further comprising a holding mechanism capable of removably retaining a grille in the opening. All suitable holding mechanisms are contemplated, including magnetic and press fit. 
     Preferred methods of mounting a speaker or other object in a wall, comprise: providing a panel having a front side, a back side and at least one edge, and an opening between the front and back sides through which sound from the object can pass; optionally installing a rim that extends from the front side of the pane, and is disposed about at least a portion of the opening; optionally installing a spackle shield in the opening; optionally mounting the object housing to the back side of the panel; mounting the panel to at least one support member of the wall; and positioning the at least one edge of the panel so that it can be approximated in an end-to-end fashion by an edge of a piece of wallboard or other wall section. 
     Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a prior art flush mount speaker panel. 
         FIG. 1B  is a vertical cross-section of the prior art speaker panel taken along line  1 B- 1 B in  FIG. 1A , installed in a wall and with an attached speaker. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a panel having a sound opening, and a bracket disposed in the sound opening. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the bracket in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified vertical cross-section of the panel and bracket of  FIG. 2 , taken along line  4 - 4 , installed in a wall and with an attached speaker. 
         FIG. 5  is a blow up of the circled portion of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a front perspective view of a panel being affixed to two studs in a wall, the panel having a spackle shield covering an opening. 
         FIG. 6B  is a front perspective view of the panel of  FIG. 4A , around which drywall has been installed. 
         FIG. 6C  is a front perspective view of the panel and drywall of  FIG. 4B , showing mesh tape. 
         FIG. 6D  is a front perspective view of the panel and drywall of  FIG. 4C , where the mesh tape has been covered by spackle. 
         FIG. 6E  is a front perspective view of the panel and drywall of  FIG. 4C , where the spackle shield has been removed to show the opening. 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a panel having two speaker openings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIG. 2  a speaker mounting apparatus  100  generally includes a panel  110  with an opening  120 , a bracket  140  disposed in the opening  120 , and attachment wings  170 A- 170 D. It should be appreciated that a speaker is used in these figures as an example of a wall mounted object. The same or analogous principles disclosed herein apply to plasma screens, in wall art panels, in wall cabinets or display areas, windows, and so forth. 
     Panel  110  is a piece of wood, plastic, or other material sufficiently strong to support a speaker between two studs of a wall. Where plywood is used, for example, the panel might be as thin as ¼″, but would more preferably measure at least ½″ or ⅜″. Preferred material include Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and other materials that closely match various characteristics of drywall. Panel  110  can have any other suitable dimensions, even for example, up to the size of replacing an entire sheet of wallboard. It is preferable for the panel  110 , or at least the lateral wings  120 A,  120 C to have a width at least six or twelve inches greater than the spacing between studs. The extra width allows the installer considerably greater flexibility in positioning the panel on the wall. 
     As used herein the term “wall” should be construed broadly to mean any sort of mechanical barrier to which a speaker or similar sized and weighted object could be attached. Thus, the term “wall” includes walls of buildings, machine housings, automobiles, cabinets and so forth, as well as doors and ceilings. Along the same lines, the term “wall section” should be interpreted as any modular portion of the wall. In standard home construction, for examples a wall section would likely be a piece of wallboard. 
     The opening  120  can also be any suitable shape and size. Preferred openings are rectangular to accommodate rectangular shaped speaker housings, but could also be oval and circular or any other desired shape. The area of the opening is generally dependent on the size of the speaker, and can range up to 80 in 2 , or larger. Especially preferred openings have an area of at least 20 in 2 , 40 in 2 , 60 in 2 , and even 80 in 2 . Nevertheless, for stability, it is contemplated that the panel have an opening with a length that is no more than half or one third the length of the panel. In some cases it may be desirable to include multiple openings to accommodate multiple speakers, as in  FIG. 7 . Preferred embodiments with multiple openings provides at least two openings and at least one of which has an area of at least 20 in 2 . 
     Any opening can be positioned in any suitable arrangement relative to the panel  110 , and indeed  FIG. 2  shows an embodiment where the opening  120  is laterally off center with respect to the opening. Openings could be cut at a job site or elsewhere by an installer, but are more conveniently precut (or molded to include the opening) at the manufacturer. It is possible for a panel to have punch out openings or perhaps cutout lines to facilitate selection of the position of the opening at the job site, but those options are currently disfavored relative to a manufactured opening and a relatively large panel. 
     The top, bottom, and side wings  170 A- 170 D, respectively, preferably extend from the corresponding edges of the panel  110  by at least about one inch, which is deemed to be sufficient space to conveniently drive a nail or screw into a stud. It is also contemplated, however, that at least one of the wings  170 A- 170 D can extend much longer, perhaps 24 to 30 inches or more. Such long wings can accommodate odd installations where the studs are spread apart at a greater distance from each other than normal. Wings  170 A- 170 D are preferably made of a metal mesh, but can include of any suitable material or materials so long as the material(s) provide(s) sufficient shear strength to support the panel  110  and speaker  16 . Metal mesh is also desirable because the wings are advantageously relatively thin, so as not to push out the overlying wallboard, and metals can provide considerable strength with thickness of less than 100 mils. It should also be appreciated that although wings  170 A- 170 D are described herein by separate numerals, they may well be one continuous piece of material. 
     Bracket  140  is preferably sized and dimensioned to fit snugly into the opening  120 , but in any event is screwed or otherwise securely attached to the panel  110 . The secure attachment is important since in at least some embodiments, the speaker housing will be attached to the bracket  140  rather than being attached directly to the panel  110 . Bracket  140  is preferably molded from polyethylene or other sufficiently strong and durable thermoset plastic, and as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3  bracket  140  includes holes  142  for screws (not shown), a recess  144  into which a speaker grille  18  can be removably secured via a holding mechanism, and a rim  140 A, and optional magnets  146  or an optional press fit (not shown). 
       FIG. 4  also shows a speaker  16 A and a grille  18 . Speaker  16 A should be interpreted as generically representing all practical speakers, including especially dynamic loudspeakers, but also including speakers without moving coils (e.g. piezoelectric speakers, plasma arc loudspeakers, digital speakers, and electrostatic loudspeakers (ESL)). The various wires for power and signal are not show in the Figures, but should be assumed, and can be those conventionally contemplated in the art. Grille  18  can be any suitable speaker grille, but is preferably a metallic mesh grille that press-fits into the opening  120 . Additionally or alternatively, the bracket can include a ferrous material that is attracted to magnets  146  in bracket  140 . 
     It should also be appreciated that the same technology can also be used to support items other than speakers, such as windows, planters, alcoves and so forth. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5  the rim  140 A is sized and dimensioned to extend outwardly from the panel  110  by a very small distance  150 , which provides a lip that can readily be filled with spackle. Preferred such distances  150  are less than ⅛ inch, and preferably about 1/16 inch. The height  150  of rim  140 A above the panel  110  is thus very different from the height  15  of rim  14 A above the panel  10  in  FIG. 1B . In the prior art configuration the rim  14 A extends by more than the combined thickness of the panel  10  and the wallboard  30 . Preferably, the panel has a thickness of at least ¼ inch. Also shown in  FIG. 5  is an attachment member  148  that helps secure bracket  140  to panel  110 . 
     It should also be appreciated that the rim could be separable from the panel. Thus, for example, the rim could be a separately molded piece of plastic, metal or composite that is installed into the opening by the installer, or at a factory. 
     In  FIG. 6A  the panel  110  is affixed to two studs  210 A,  210 B in a wall, and screws  215  are inserted through one of the wings  170 A and the panel  110 . Of course, the positioning and orientation of the panel could be varied in any suitable manner with respect to the studs,  210 A,  210 B, including moving the panel  110  higher or lower, left or right, or even tilting the panel clockwise or counterclockwise. Similarly, the studs should be interpreted herein as emblematic of any support structures of a wall, whether or not such structures are technically considered to be studs. In addition, a greater or lesser number of screws could be used, or inserted in some other arrangement than that shown to provide greater or lesser support. The screws could also be replaced or supplemented by some other attachment means such as adhesive. In preparation for spackling, a spackle shield  190  covers the opening  120 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the combination of panel and bracket could be provided in several different ways. The panel and bracket could, for example, be joined together at a job site, and indeed the panel could even be “manufactured” at the job site by cutting or punching out the opening. More preferably, however, the panel and bracket are provided as an item of manufacture to the installer by a supplier or manufacturer. The rim of the panel can be pre-installed to the panel. Thus, in various embodiments a kit could contain one or more of a panel, a bracket (or at least a rim around the edges of an opening in the panel), a speaker housing, a spackle shield, and installation screws. The installer would then provide whatever labor is appropriate for the installation, including optionally installing the bracket and/or rim, optionally installing the spackle shield, and optionally mounting the speaker into the speaker housing to the back side of the panel. It is also contemplated that the speaker can be pre-installed into the panel before installation. Alternatively the combination of the panel and bracket can be mounted before installing a rim on the opening. 
     In  FIG. 6B  drywall  220  or other wallboard has been installed on all four sides around the panel  110 , and coupled to the wings using screws  215 . Where wings are present, as in the embodiment depicted, the drywall  220  overlays the wings, but the wings are sufficiently thin so that the drywall is not noticeable raised. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although  FIG. 6B  shows the drywall  220  surrounding the panel  110  as a single pieces it is entirely possible that the drywall could comprise multiple pieces (not shown). It is also contemplated that installation of the drywall  220  might be delegated to drywaller or other tradesman distinct from the panel installer. Nevertheless, the process of installing the panel on one or more wall supports is deemed to include the step of positioning the panel so that it can be approximated in an end-to-end fashion by a piece of wallboard or other wall section. 
     In  FIG. 6C  mesh tape  230  is applied along the juxtapositions or other approximations between edges of the panel  110  and edges of the drywall  220 . Here again, this step is usually delegated to a professional drywaller, but should be interpreted as being accomplished by the installer of the panel, regardless of which person actually does the work. 
     In  FIG. 6D  the mesh tape is covered by spackle, and ready for painting, wallpapering, or other surface coating. As used herein, the terms “spackle” and “spackling” should be interpreted as broadly as possible, to include for example plaster and plastering of any type. The point is merely to provide a smoothed out surface that completely or substantially hides the joints between edges of the panel and edges of the drywall. 
     In  FIG. 6E  the spackle shield is removed to show the opening  120 . Note that for simplicity the speaker housing is not shown in the Figure. Nevertheless, the speaker housing would almost certainly have been installed, and the various power and signal cables connected, prior to fixing the panel  110  on the studs  210 A,  210 B. 
     In  FIG. 7  a panel  300  has two speaker openings  320 A and  320 B. These openings are each preferably at least 40 inch 2  in area, but can be any sizes or shapes, and can have any physically orientation and positioning with respect to each other. The openings  320 A,  320 B have brackets  340 A,  340 B, respectively, the panel  300  has wings  370 A- 370 D, all in accordance with the teaching herein. 
     Thus, specific embodiments and applications of flangeless speaker devices and methods have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.