Patent Publication Number: US-2012027244-A1

Title: Speaker

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the art of speakers, and more particularly, to a structure of a case of a speaker for assembling a pair of terminals therewith. 
     RELATED ART OF THE INVENTION 
     Speakers are widely used in many types of portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, notebook computers, hearing aids, for converting audio electrical signals to audible sounds. Gradually, sizes of the portable electronic devices have being designed more and more smaller for satisfying the consumer&#39;s needs. So, the speakers used in the portable electronic devices also should be developed to satisfy the trend of miniature. 
     Generally, a related speaker includes a case for receiving an electroacoustic transducer therein, and a pair of terminals for providing audio electrical signals to the electroacoustic transducer. The electroacoustic transducer includes a yoke, a magnet fixed to the yoke, a plate attached to an upper surface of the magnet, a coil suspended in a magnetic gap formed between the yoke and the magnet, and a diaphragm droved to move by the coil for producing sound waves. Each of the terminals defines a mounting section for being electrically connected to the coil in the case and a free section extending from the mounting section for being contacted with a PCB of the external electronic device. While assembling the pair of terminals into the case, the mounting section is uprightly inserted into a main surface of the case, and the free section projects from the main surface of the case. Then, a thickness of the speaker is the summation of a thickness of the case and a thickness of the free section, which increases the whole thickness of the speaker, and makes it is difficult to make a thinner speaker. 
     Therefore, an improved speaker that can resolve the problems mentioned-above is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of a speaker in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an enlarged view of Area A in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  depicts an isometric exploded view of a case and a pair of terminals of the speaker in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to describe one exemplary embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a speaker  10 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a case  11 , an electroacoustic  12  received in the case  11 , and a pair of terminals  13  assembled in the case. 
     The electroacoustic transducer  12 , for converting audio electrical signals to audible sounds, is a public-known transducer and generally includes a yoke, a magnet fixed to the yoke, a plate attached to the magnet, a coil suspended in a magnetic gap formed between the yoke and the magnet, and a diaphragm connected to the coil. In fact, the transducer  12  is not limited to the structures described above, and can make the present invention practical as long as it is capable of converting electrical signals into audible sounds. 
     The case  11  defines a center cavity for receiving the electroacoustic transducer  12  and a body  11   a  surrounding the center cavity. The body  11   a  of the case  11  defines a main upper surface  11   b  and a main lower surface (not shown) opposite to the upper surface  11   b , and four sides  110  coupled with the upper surface  11   b  and the lower surface. The four sides  110  are divided into a pair of opposite short sides  110   a  and a pair of opposite long sides  110   b.    
     Each short side  110   a  defines a plat  111  approximately upright thereto and a projecting mass  112  approximately uprightly extending therefrom. The projecting mass  112  faces the plat  111  and a gap  121  is formed between the plat  111  and the projecting mass  112 . Furthermore, a length of the projecting mass  112  is shorter than a length of the plat  111 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , each one of the pair of terminal  13  is made of a flexible metal plate, and the flexible metal plate is folded up so as to form an upper plate  130   a  and a lower plate  130   b  opposite to the upper plate  130   a.    
     The upper plate  130   a  is bent, and the lower plate  130   b  is straight. A back section of the upper plate  130   a  is connected to a back section of the lower plate  130   b , and a fore section of the upper plate  130   a  departs from a fore section of the lower plate  130   b.    
     The fore section of the upper plate  130   a  is used for being electrically connected the PCB of the external electronic device. So, the fore section of the upper plate  130   a  is bended to form an arc  131 , and defines a T-shaped end  132  bending toward the lower plate  130   b.    
     While assembling the terminal  13  into the case  11 , both of the back sections of the upper plate  130   a  and the lower plate  130   b  are sandwiched in the gap  121  between the plat  111  and the projecting mass  112  along a direction of upright to the side  110   a , with the lower plate  130   b  attached to the plat  111 . And, a height of the gap  121  is not greater than the summation of a thickness of the back sections of the upper plate  130   a  and a thickness of the back sections of the lower plate  130   b , so, the terminal  13  can be firmly fixed in the case. Furthermore, the projecting mass is shorter than the plat, and located above the back section of the upper plate  130   a , so that, the fore section of the upper plate is free for being electrically connected to the PCB of the external electronic device. 
     Furthermore, a length of the lower plate  130   b  is approximately equal to the flat  111 , so as the lower plate  130   b  can be completely attached to the plat. 
     In order to control a place of the fore section of the upper plate  130   a , a pair of poles  116  uprightly extending from the plat  111  are provided and spaced a distance each other so that the fore section of the upper plate  130   a  is sandwiched between the poles. And, in order to receive the T-shaped end  132 , a house  115  formed between the poles  116  and a portion of side  110   a  of the case is provided. 
     Because, the terminal  130  is inserted in the side  110   a  of the case  11  along a direction of upright to the side  110   a , a thickness of the speaker  10  can not extra increase. In other words, the thickness of the speaker  10  only approximately is the thickness of the case, not additionally extra thickness of another element. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description of the invention is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various of modifications to the present invention can be made to the exemplary embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.