Patent Publication Number: US-2003235323-A1

Title: Pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention is related to a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat, and especially to an in-wall speaker seat allowing a frame of the speaker to fast connect with a plurality of brackets without a tool but only by engagement of engaging hooks with engaging recesses, this structure can speed up the assembling work, and is particularly suitable for a pre-embedded structure such as a speaker seat or the like in a wall.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 a - 1   c , a conventional pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat is comprised mainly of a frame and three kinds of connecting brackets. The frame is a rectangular frame, and is provided on the surface thereof with indents and screw holes for positioning and screw connecting; the frame is provided on the walls thereof integrally with a plurality of triangular protruding connecting blocks. These connecting blocks are provided with screw holes for screw connecting with a speaker. The connecting brackets are in the form of “L” shaped sheets, and are provided on the surface thereof with screw holes. By alignment of the connecting brackets with the indents of the frame, and by screw connecting of the connecting brackets with the frame, the speaker seat can be connected to the wall with screws. Such a structure has the following disadvantages though.  
       [0005] 1. Although the frame is provided on the surface thereof with indents as alignment lines, these lines are only spacing lines printed in a simple way, they can not provide good assistance in alignment, but can only be used in relying upon the eyesight of an operator for adjusting; therefore, when in connecting, bevel rather than level state of the frame can be resulted.  
       [0006] 2. Connecting of the connecting brackets with the frame is done with locking screws one by one, assembling of the speaker seat can only be accomplished by using a tool; it cannot be assembled and dismantled in a simple and convenient way.  
       [0007] 3. In assembling, if the positions of the members are changed, mutual changing among the three kinds of connecting brackets with different lengths are required, these connecting brackets are not common to one another, these members in different styles will increase the cost of production, and can make inconvenience in management for classifying and storage.  
       [0008] In view of these, the inventor of the present invention studied and developed a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat, with which the frame of the speaker can be fast connected with the brackets without a tool, positioning can be accurate and assembling can be fast.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat that can allow a frame of the speaker to fast connect with a plurality of brackets without a tool but only by engagement of engaging hooks of the brackets with engaging recesses of the frame.  
       [0010] The secondary object of the present invention is to provide a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat, wherein by providing a plurality of positioning ribs and positioning recesses forming connections of relieves and recesses to accomplish engagement and positioning within the thickness of the wall.  
       [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat, wherein by providing a plurality of protrusions on the brackets, the protrusions can contact the engaging grooves to easily make a selection in alignment with the engaging grooves accurately, thereby, an effect of easy adjustment can be obtained.  
       [0012] To achieve the above stated objects, the present invention comprises a frame of the speaker and a plurality of brackets, in which, by insertion of the engaging hooks on the external surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets into the engaging recesses to hook the inner edges of the engaging recesses, the protrusions on the external surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets can be inserted into the engaging grooves in passing to make engagement and positioning of the positioning ribs with the positioning recesses. Thereby, the pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat is completed. By engagement of the brackets with the engaging recesses of the frame of the speaker, the frame of the speaker can be fast connected with the brackets without a tool; and by connecting of the positioning ribs with the positioning recesses as well as the protrusions with the engaging grooves, the brackets can easily get a selection in alignment with the engaging grooves within the thickness of the wall to accomplish engagement and positioning by connections of relieves and recesses.  
       [0013] The present invention will be apparent in its features as well as structure after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIGS. 1 a - 1   c  are schematic views showing a pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat of a conventional structure;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is an analytical perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention in use;  
     [0018]FIG. 5 a  is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention when in the locking state;  
     [0019]FIG. 5 b  is a schematic view showing force bearing of the brackets of the embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0020]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing adjustment for positioning within the thickness of the wall of the embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0021] Referring firstly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat of the present invention comprises: a frame  10  of the speaker, a plurality of brackets  20  and means for fixing by engagement  40 .  
     [0022] In which, the frame  10  is generally a rectangular frame having external frame walls  11  on the four sides thereof. The external frame walls  11  are provided on the external peripheral surfaces of the lateral two sides thereof with a plurality of elongate positioning recesses  12 , and are provided on the corners of the inner surfaces of thereof with a plurality of triangular protruding connecting blocks  15 , and are provided on the surfaces of the lateral walls thereof centrally with a plurality of inwardly extending triangular protruding connecting blocks  16 . The triangular protruding connecting blocks  15 ,  16  are provided thereon with a plurality of screw holes  17  for screw connecting with the speaker. The external frame walls  11  are provided at a suitable location thereon with a rib strip  18  to reinforce themselves.  
     [0023] The brackets  20  are generally each in the shape of “␣” and are each provided with two legs  21 , and are provided on the external surfaces of the middle sections thereof each with a plurality of positioning ribs  22 . The legs  21  of the brackets  20  are provided thereon with a plurality of locking holes  26 , to be selected and screw connected onto the posts  30  of a wall panel  31 .  
     [0024] The means  40  for fixing by engagement are comprised of male and female parts respectively provided at suitable locations on the frame  10  of the speaker and the brackets  20  to be abutting-connected with each other. A preferred arrangement is that, the frame  10  of the speaker is provided at the two ends of each elongate positioning recess  12  thereof with an engaging recess  14  respectively, and the brackets  20  are provided at the two ends of each positioning rib  22  thereof with two expansion slits  23 . The outer ends of the expansion slits  23  each is provided with an engaging hook  24  for hooking in a corresponding engaging recess  14  to make the brackets  20  be hooked on the frame  10 .  
     [0025] The present invention can also be provided with auxiliary positioning means for easy connecting, the means include engaging grooves  13  provided on the frame walls  11  and protrusions  25  on the external peripheral surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets  20 , thereby when in assembling, the protrusions  25  are inserted into the engaging grooves  13  in the first place to get an effect of capability of selection for positioning.  
     [0026] Referring to FIG. 4, when in assembling of the present invention, the protrusions  25  on the external peripheral surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets  20  are used to make a pre-selection for alignment with the engaging grooves  13 . By providing the protrusions  25  on the external peripheral surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets  20 , the protrusions  25  will be connected the engaging grooves  13  in the first place, thereby can easily and accurately be aligned with and inserted into the engaging grooves  13 . And then the engaging hooks  24  on the external peripheral surfaces of the middle sections of the brackets  20  are inserted into the corresponding engaging recesses  14  to hook the inner sides of latter. At this time, the positioning ribs  22  are engaged with the positioning recesses  12 . By engagement of the engaging hooks  24  with the engaging recesses  14 , the positioning ribs  22  with the positioning recesses  12  and the protrusions  25  with the engaging grooves  13 , the brackets  20  are fixed on the frame  10 .  
     [0027] Referring to FIG. 5 b , when it is to dismantle before locking of the present invention, just by slightly pressing the legs  21  of the brackets  20  to bend inwardly, the expansion slits  23  provided on the brackets  20  can be moved to open, and the engaging hooks  24  can be moved outwardly at the same time, thereby, the engaging hooks  24  can be easily released from the engaging recesses  14  to allow separation of the brackets  20  from the frame  10 .  
     [0028] Referring to FIG. 4 again, when in application, the pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat having been assembled can have the brackets  20  with the locking holes  26  on the legs  21  thereof selected for different lengths required and mounted fixedly by screw connecting on the posts  30 . When the wall panel  31  is assembled, the present invention can be hidden in the wall panel  31  ready for installation of the speaker. Referring to FIG. 5 a , when the present invention is combined with the posts  30  on the wall panel  31 , the legs  21  of the brackets  20  are locked by the screws and thereby can not be bent inwardly, the engaging hooks  24  thereby can firmly hook into the engaging recesses  14  to make firm connection of the brackets  20  with the frame  10 . That is to say, when the brackets  20  of the present invention are fixed by screw connecting on the posts  30 , the pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat of the present invention not only can be fixed on the posts  30 , but also can fix the legs  21  of the brackets  20  to avoid the legs  21  from bending inwardly to make the engaging hooks  24  be released from the engaging recesses  14 , thereby the brackets  20  can be combined with the frame  10  firmer.  
     [0029] Referring to FIG. 6, the width of the engaging grooves  13  on the frame  10  of the speaker of the present invention is given in pursuance of the specification in re thickness of the wall panel  31 , it can be ⅜″, ½″, ⅝″, ¾″ and 1″ etc. in favor of measuring and selection of position; and the legs  21  can be provided thereon with size marks  27  in favor of accurate positioning the frame  10  of the speaker without using a measuring tool. This not only make convenient in use, but also can reduce working hours.  
     [0030] And more, when in assembling the present invention, the positioning recesses  12  of the frame  10  of the speaker can be engaged with the positioning ribs  22  of the brackets  20 . This can effectively make positioning at a preset depth of embedment to prevent the frame  10  of the speaker from sliding rearwards, and can further make excellent combination of the frame  10  of the speaker with the brackets  20  by mutual engagement of the positioning ribs  22  with the positioning recesses  12 . By providing the engaging grooves  13 , the brackets  20  can obtain the insertion position thereof within the thickness of the wall panel  31  to form connections of relieves and recesses to accomplish engagement and positioning. In this way, levelness of the wall surface can be obtained. Therefore, the present invention needs no tool in assembling, and positioning thereof can be accurate and fast, it provides convenience when in use.  
     [0031] Accordingly, the present invention has the following advantages:  
     [0032] 1. By engagement of the engaging hooks of the brackets with the engaging recesses of the frame of the present invention, combination of the frame of the speaker with the brackets can be fast; this provides convenience when in use.  
     [0033] 2. By providing a plurality of positioning ribs and positioning recesses forming connections of relieves and recesses, the pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat of the present invention can accomplish engagement and positioning within the thickness of the wall; this provides practicality of use.  
     [0034] 3. By providing a plurality of protrusions on the brackets, the protrusions can contact the engaging grooves in the first place to easily make a selection in alignment with the required engaging grooves accurately, thereby, an effect of easy adjustment can be obtained; this also provides convenience when in use.  
     [0035] In conclusion, the present invention can get rid of the defects resided in the conventional pre-embedded in-wall speaker seat, but also can make fast combination of the frame of the speaker with the brackets without using a tool to speed up the assembling work. Thereby, practicality and convenience of the present invention can be largely increased, and the present invention can suit various pre-embedded in-wall structures for hi-fis, speakers etc.  
     [0036] The above stated is only for illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but not for giving any limitation to the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various equivalent modifications or changes can be made to the elements of the present invention and shall fall within the scope of the appended claims and are intended to form part of this invention.