Patent Publication Number: US-11044541-B1

Title: Loudspeaker with mounting assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/725,181, entitled “Loudspeaker with Mounting Assembly,” filed Aug. 30, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to loudspeakers and more particularly but without limitation to loudspeakers with attached mounting assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with this description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings merely illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a loudspeaker assembly made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The speaker is shown in a straight or non-rotated position relative to the mounting assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the loudspeaker assembly shown in  FIG. 1  with the speaker rotated to the right relative to the mounting assembly. The swivel assembly allows the mounted speaker to be rotated to direct sound as desired. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged frontal view of the loudspeaker assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the loudspeaker assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded frontal perspective view of the clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the clamp assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bottom of the clamp assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 8A  is a top perspective view of the gate of the clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 8B  is an elevational view of the inside (back) of gate. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the swivel assembly attached to the top of the loudspeaker enclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the swivel assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged, fragmented sectional view of the loudspeaker assembly taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 3  and illustrating the operation of the cam locks. 
         FIG. 12  shows the first step in installing the loudspeaker and mounting assembly. The loudspeaker is positioned in front of the clamp assembly with the terminal block of the swivel assembly generally aligned with the docking channel in the clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of the loudspeaker and clamp assembly shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the loudspeaker and clamp assembly shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing the terminal block of the swivel assembly docked in the docking channel of the clamp assembly. 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged view showing the gate in position across the front opening into the docking channel. 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged view showing the thumb nuts attached to secure the gate in position completing the installation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Those who enjoy water sports like to attach loudspeakers to structures on the boat so that they can enjoy music while they recreate on the water. So-called “wakeboard tower speakers” are sold for this application. The speaker enclosure typically is a small cone or bullet-shaped housing with a bracket on top that attaches the speaker to the wakeboard tower or other horizontal bar-like structure or elongate support. The electrical wiring from the speaker is threaded through the bracket and into the wakeboard bar. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is an improved mount for these tower speakers. The inventive mount offers several advantages residing in the way the speaker enclosure is attached to the clamp. The mount comprises the clamp that attaches to the wakeboard tower bar and a swivel assembly that is attached to the top of the speaker enclosure. 
     The clamp is attached to the wakeboard tower bar first, and then the speaker enclosure is slid into place. This is made possible by using a pin and socket terminal to make the electrical connections between the swivel assembly on the top of the speaker and base of the clamp. The installer does not have to manage the wiring and connecting bolts while at the same time attaching the enclosure to the clamp. 
     The swivel assembly provides a self-aligning feature that is advantageous during installation. The movable fitting will self-rotate as it is guided into the clamp base so that it is aligned for proper engagement of the pin and socket terminal. The swivel also permits the position of the mounted speaker to be adjusted to direct the sound as desired. 
     Turning now to the drawings in general and to  FIGS. 1-4  in particular, there is shown therein a loudspeaker assembly  10  comprising a loudspeaker  12  and a mounting assembly  14 . “Loudspeaker” and “speaker” are used synonymously herein and refer to a device that converts electric signals to audible sound and may be used interchangeably with the term “speaker.” In addition to including audio signal transmission wires, a loudspeaker may include light signal transmission wires connected to one or more light components incorporated into the loudspeaker. The integrated light components may be any type of light source, such as but not limited to light emitting diodes. “Loudspeaker” includes devices dedicated to selected ranges, such as mid-range, tweeter, and subwoofer. “Loudspeaker” is not limited to any particular design or mechanism of operation. For example, the cone-shaped or bullet shaped speaker shown and described herein may include a horn-loaded compression driver and have a frequency response range of about 20 to about 20,000 Hz, but the invention is not so limited. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mounting assembly  14  includes a clamp assembly  16  and a swivel assembly  18 . The clamp assembly  16  comprises at least one clamp  20  for attachment to a wakeboard tower or bar or other elongate support  24 , which could be vertical or horizontal. In the embodiment illustrated, the clamp assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart clamps, but in some embodiments there is only one clamp or more than two clamps. Each clamp may comprise upper and lower clamp members that are bolted together as best seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     One embodiment of the clamp assembly  16  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , to which attention now is directed. As indicated, the clamp assembly may comprise first and second clamps  20  and  22 . The first and second clamps  20  and  22  may be spaced a distance apart and together may cooperatively define a support receiving channel  30  configured to receive the elongate support  24 , such as a wakeboard tower. The support receiving channel  30  may be configured to attach to a cylindrical elongate bar and thus may have an axis “X,” as seen best in  FIG. 13  discussed below. As used herein, “axis” refers to an imaginary line about which a structure is symmetrical. 
     In the embodiment shown, the first and second clamps  20  and  22  are supported on a base  34 . Although the size and configuration of the base  34  may vary, a generally U-shaped base is advantageous for a reason that will become apparent. As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the clamps  20  and  22  may each comprise upper and lower clamp members  20   a  and  20   b  and  22   a  and  22   b  that together form the support receiving channel  30 . The upper and lower clamp members  20   a  and  20   b  and  22   a  and  22   b  may be attached to the base  34  using bolts designated collectively at  36  that are received in bolt holes  38  in the base. The clamps  20  and  22  may also include liners  40   a  and  40   b  and  42   a  and  42   b  to grip the elongate support  24  ( FIGS. 1&amp;2 ). The liners  40   a  and  40   b  and  42   a  and  42   b  may be formed of a resilient composite material, such as rubberized polyvinylchloride (PVC). 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the base  34  may define a docking channel  46 . The docking channel  46  has an open front ( FIG. 5 ) and may have a closed rear ( FIG. 6 ). As explained more fully hereafter, the docking channel  46  has an axis “Y,” best seen in  FIG. 13 . In the exemplary embodiment, the axis “Y” of the docking channel  46  is perpendicular to the axis “X” of the support receiving channel  30  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     The docking channel may have an open bottom defined by a U-shaped shelf  48 , which may be equipped within a slide-in U-shaped liner  50 . The liner  50  may have a peripheral groove  52  for receiving the inner edge of the shelf  48 . The liner may be formed of a resilient composite material, such as rubberized polyvinylchloride (PVC). 
     As seen best in  FIG. 7 , a first terminal block  60  may be supported on the base at the closed rear of the docking channel  46 . In the preferred practice of the invention, the electrical connections in the mounting assembly are made by pin and socket type connectors. In the embodiment shown, the electrical terminal  60  comprises pin elements to mate with sockets in the swivel assembly yet to be described. Alternately, the first terminal block  60  may comprise the sockets while the swivel assembly includes the pins. 
     The first terminal block  60  may be contained within a terminal enclosure formed by a top cover  62  and a bottom cover  64 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , attached to each other using screws  66  ( FIG. 8 ). The top and bottom covers  62  and  64  are configured to capture the terminal block  60  inside allowing the wiring bundle  68  to extend out the rear ( FIGS. 6&amp;8 ). The wire bundle  68  may be sheathed and provided with a rubber grommet for the tower bar to further simplify installation. 
     As explained previously, one particularly advantageous feature of the mounting assembly  14  of the present invention is that the position of the loudspeaker  12  relative to the clamp assembly  16  is adjustable. To secure the installed loudspeaker  12  in the adjusted position, the clamp assembly  16  may include locks. These locks may take any suitable form. 
     In one embodiment, shown and described herein, the locks take the form of a pair of cam locks  70  and  72 . Each cam lock  70  and  72  comprises a cam arm,  70   a  and  72   a , pivotally attached to one end of a threaded cam rod  70   b ,  72   b . The cam rods  70   b  and  72   b  are received in cam blocks  74  and  76  supported underneath the base  34  to that the free ends of the rods extend a distance forward of the cam blocks. The cam locks  70  and  72  include cam nuts  70   c  and  72   c . The operation of the cam locks  70  and  72  in the assembled device will be explained hereafter. 
     As will be explained hereafter, the terminal block of the swivel assembly  18  is inserted into the docking channel  46  to make the electrical connections between the loudspeaker  12  and clamp assembly  14 . To protect and enclose the mated terminal blocks, the clamp assembly  14  may comprise a gate  80  attachable across the front opening of the docking channel using connectors such as thumb nuts  82 , for example. Conveniently, the gate  80  may include holes  84  ( FIG. 5 ) positioned to receive the free ends of the cam rods  70   b  and  72   b , and the thumb nuts  82  then may be threaded to attach to the free ends of the cam rods. As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the back or inside surface of the gate  80  includes an elongate horizontally extending bumper  86  with an inwardly curved profile for a purpose described below. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an embodiment of the swivel assembly  18  will be explained. The housing or enclosure  78  of the loudspeaker  12  may include a bracket face  90  ( FIG. 10 ), which may be formed integrally into the enclosure or formed separately and attached to the enclosure. The bracket face  90  includes a central opening  90   a  to receiving the wiring bundle  92 . 
     The swivel assembly  18  includes a mounting bracket  96 . The mounting bracket  96  comprises a bottom plate  98  with a bottom face that mates with the bracket face  90  on the enclosure  78 . The upper surface of the bottom plate  98  defines a circumferential shoulder  100 . A flange  102  is supported on a narrow diameter section  104  of the bracket  96  forming a circumferential groove  106 . Bolt holes, designated collectively at  110 , extending through the flange  102  and the bottom plate  96  receive bracket bolts  112 , collectively, are aligned with holes  114  ( FIG. 10 ) in the bracket face  90  on the enclosure  78  for attaching the mounting bracket  96  to the enclosure  78 . A central opening  116  ( FIG. 10 ) extends through the mounting bracket  96  to accommodate the wiring bundle  92 . 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the swivel assembly  18  includes a second terminal block  120  with sockets for receiving the pins in the first terminal block  60  in the clamp assembly  16 . As indicated, these components could be reversed, so that the pin connector is in the swivel assembly  18  and the socket connector is in the clamp assembly  16 . 
     The terminal block  120  (sockets) is supported inside a swivel housing  122  with a cover  124  attachable with screws  125 . The swivel housing  122  includes docking body  126  with a downwardly extending sleeve  130  that is received in the central opening  116  in the bracket  96 . A resilient catch or detent, such as one or more flexible hooks  132  is provided on the sleeve  130 . This allows the swivel housing  122  to be snapped into place allowing rotational movement of the swivel housing but preventing withdrawal of the housing from the bracket  96 . 
     The swivel housing  122  is configured to be received in the docking channel  46  ( FIG. 5 ) of the clamp assembly  16 . More specifically, the docking body  126  is shaped to slide into the docking channel  46  horizontally (as viewed in the drawings) so that flange  102  slides in over the shelf  48  and liner  50  and so that the terminal block  120  (sockets) mates with the terminal block  60  (pins) in the clamp assembly  16 . It is advantageous to provide the leading portion of the docking body  126  with a curved front section  128  ( FIG. 9 ) as this will facilitate the entry of the docking body into the docking channel  46 . The curved front  128  will self-align the docking body  126  if the body is not perfectly aligned with the channel  46  as the docking body is inserted. 
     Having described how the swivel assembly  18  is engaged with the clamp assembly  16 , the operation of the cam locks  70  and  72  will be explained more fully. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the cam locks  70  and  72  are mounted under the base  34 . The gate  80  is supported on the cam rods  70   b  and  72   b . As shown, the heads  70   d  and  72   d  are rounded and are mounted on pins  70   e  and  72   e  for rotational movement. The rounded heads  70   d  and  72   d  are received in a concave surface on the cam nuts  70   c  and  72   c.    
     The pins  70   e  and  72   e  are off center so that, in the closed position with the cam arm  70   a  and  72   a  hugging the side of the base  34 , the heads  70   d  and  72   d  closely abut the convex surfaces of the cam nuts  70   c  and  72   c . This snugs up the abutting surfaces of the thumb nuts  82 , the gate  80 , the cam blocks  74  and  76 , the cam nuts  70   c  and  72   c , and the heads  70   d  and  72   d  of the cam arms  70   a  and  72   a . In addition, in this position, the convex front edge of the flange  102  abuts the concave surface of the bumper  86  on the inside of the gate  80 , and the rear edge of the flange abuts the rounded rear wall  136  (see also  FIG. 7 ) of the docking channel  46 . This frictionally secures the flange  102  and thus prevents rotation of the swivel assembly  18 . 
     To adjust the orientation of the loudspeaker  12 , the cam arms  70   a  and  72   a  are moved to the open position (at bottom of  FIG. 11 ). In this open or “loose” position, there is a small space between the sides of the heads  70   d  and  72   d  and the concave surfaces of the cam nuts  70   c  and  72   c . This space releases the grip on the flange  102  and allows rotation of the swivel assembly  18 . When the desired orientation of the loudspeaker  12  is achieved, the cam arms  70   a  and  70   b  are returned to the closed position (above in  FIG. 11 ), in which the cam arms are tucked under the base  34  again griping the flange  102  of the swivel assembly  18  to prevent dislocation. 
     Use of the mounting assembly  14  will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 12-17 . In most instances, the mounting assembly  14  will be attached to a loudspeaker, such as the bullet-shaped speaker  12  shown in the drawings, providing the loudspeaker assembly  10 . If this is not the case, the attachment plate  90  should be bolted to the enclosure  78  of the loudspeaker  12 . 
     Next, the clamp assembly  16  is mounted on the tower bar ( FIGS. 1&amp;2 ) or other support  24 . The wire bundle  68  (audio, LED, ground, etc.) is threaded through the bar  24  and connected to their respective sources. The wiring connections are now complete. The gate  80  and thumb nuts  82  are removed from the base providing access to the docking channel  46 , and the cam locks  70  and  72  are moved to their open (unlocked) positions. In most instances, the support  24  will be horizontal, that is, perpendicular to the normal gravity vector “V” ( FIG. 14 ). As used herein, “normal gravity vector” means a vector that is perpendicular to the surface of the earth. Thus, as best shown in  FIG. 12 , the now open docking channel  46  is horizontally aligned, that is, perpendicular to the normal gravity vector “V.” 
     With the docking channel  46  open and accessible, the installer holds the speaker  12  in front of and slightly below ( FIGS. 13&amp;14 ) the clamp assembly  16  aiming the docking body  126  of the swivel assembly  18  toward the open front of the docking channel  46 . The docking body  126  is moved in the direction of the arrow “A” into the docking channel  46 . Recall that the curved front  128  ( FIG. 13 ) of the docking body  126  will self-align as it is guided into the channel  46 . If the center front of the docking body  126  is pointing within about 120° of the center of the docking channel  46 , it will self-align as it is being inserted. This simplifies installation; if the docking body  126  is just “in the ball park,” it self-rotates into the channel with the first and second terminal blocks  60  ( FIG. 7 ) and  120  ( FIG. 9 ) aligned for proper connection. 
     The side edges of the flange  102  are positioned over the liner  50  and shelf  48  so that the liner and shelf slide into the groove  106  ( FIG. 10 ) and until the second terminal block  120  engages the first terminal block  60 . This establishes the electrical connection between the speaker  12  and the wiring bundle  58 . Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the speaker  12  now is supported by gravity eliminating the need for the installer to continue to support the speaker with one hand while struggling to complete other wiring or hardware connections with the other hand. This “hands free” gravity-supported feature is particularly advantageous as it frees up both hands of the installer to adjust the speaker position. 
     Once the docking body  126  is positioned in the docking channel  46 , the gate  80  then is placed on the cam rods  70   b  and  72   b , as seen in  FIG. 16 . Then, the thumb nuts  82  are attached to secure the gate  80  in position, as seen in  FIG. 17 . 
     As explained previously, the orientation or direction of the speaker can be adjusted without removing the gate  80  or the thumb screws  82 . Rather, moving the cam locks  70  and  72  to the outspread or open position will allow rotation of the speaker  12  to the desired position. Notably, the embodiment shown and described herein permits the installed speaker  12  to be rotated at least more than 180 degrees, preferably more than 270 degrees and most preferably up to at least about 350 degrees, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . Still further, in other embodiments of the invention, a rotary type electrical connection may be employed instead of the pin and socket type connector shown, which would allow greater rotational range. As used herein, “rotation,” “rotatable,” “rotatably,” are not to be construed as limited by a minimum or maximum range of rotation. 
     While the present invention is illustrated as supporting a speaker from a horizontal support, it is not so limited. The clamp assembly could be attached to a vertical support or to any elongate support at an angle to the vertical (normal gravity vector). 
     The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary. Unless otherwise stated explicitly, each element shown or described herein is optional. Many details are often found in the art and, therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described herein. It is not claimed that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been described in the drawings and accompanying text, the description is illustrative only. 
     Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad meaning of the terms of the attached claims. Unless otherwise expressly stated, each and every element described and shown herein is optional. 
     The description and drawings of the specific embodiments herein do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but rather provide an example of how to use and make the invention. Likewise, the abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. Rather, the limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.