Abstract:
This invention provides a spring loaded mounting mechanism for easily mounting and removing a loudspeaker housing within an opening in a surface. The mounting mechanism includes a shaft connected to the loudspeaker housing. Attached to the shaft is a spring actuated arm. The actuated arm is compressed inward toward the housing by the side walls of the surface surrounding the opening when the housing is being positioned within the opening. At a certain point when the housing is inserted far enough into the opening, the actuated arm will lose contact with the side walls of the surface surrounding the opening and will expand to its open position. In its open position, the arm is positioned just behind or against the back face of the surface surrounding the opening, locking the housing into the opening in the surface. The invention further allows for the spring actuated arm to be tightened against or moved away from the back face of the surface by adjusting the positioning of the shaft. To remove the housing from the opening, the spring actuated arm may be moved away from the back face of the surface surrounding the opening by compressing the arm inward toward the housing. The arm may be compressed inward through the use of a device or by the hand of a user. Once the arm is compressed inward, the housing may be easily removed from the opening.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/399,791 filed on Jul. 31, 2002, which is incorporated into this application by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention. 
     This invention generally relates to the field of loudspeakers. In particular, the invention relates to a system capable of latching the loudspeaker housing within a surface. 
     2. Related Art. 
     Installing a loudspeaker into a surface such as a wall and/or ceiling generally includes cutting an opening into the surface to insert the loudspeaker housing into the opening. The loudspeaker housing may be flush against the surface and have a recessed area to receive a baffle that covers the opening and loudspeaker housing. The baffle may incorporate at least one loudspeaker. The loudspeaker housing may be first secured in the surface and then the baffle (with at least one loudspeaker) may be secured to the loudspeaker housing. 
     At present, mounting a loudspeaker housing within a surface generally includes placing the loudspeaker housing within an opening in the surface and attaching the loudspeaker housing to the opening. Attaching typically involves utilizing some type of attaching means such as screws, nails or adhesive. However, this approach is difficult because it requires the loudspeaker to be placed into proper position within the opening in the surface and to be properly attached to the opening while maintaining the proper position. Additionally, this approach is generally inflexible and permanent in nature because once the loudspeaker housing is attached to the opening it is difficult to reposition the loudspeaker housing or remove it without significant effort or potential damage to the surface. Therefore, there is also a need for a mounting mechanism that is capable of easily mounting a loudspeaker housing within a surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention provides a spring loaded mounting mechanism for easily mounting and removing a loudspeaker housing within an opening in a surface. A shaft is connected to the loudspeaker housing. Attached to the shaft is a spring loaded mounting mechanism. The spring loaded mounting mechanism includes a spring actuated arm member that has a beginning or open position. When the spring actuated arm member comes in contact with the side wall of the surface, the spring actuated arm member compresses inward toward the housing. Once the housing is positioned far enough in the opening, the spring loaded arm loses contact with the side wall of the surface and expands back to its original open position. When expanded to the open position, the arm aligns with the back side of the surface surrounding the opening. This locks the housing into place within the opening of the surface. 
     The interface between the spring actuated arm and the back side or face of the surface surrounding the opening may be tightened or loosened by adjusting the positioning of the shaft. The shaft may be designed as a threaded shaft that may be rotated to tighten or loosen the position of the mounting mechanism relative to the housing and/or the back face of the surface surrounding the opening. 
     The back panel of the housing may be open. To remove the housing, the spring actuated arm may be moved away from the back face of the surface surrounding the opening by compressing the arm inward toward the housing. The arm may be compressed inward through the use of a device or by the hand of a user. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a loudspeaker mounting mechanism for mounting a loudspeaker within a surface. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the loudspeaker housing showing an example implementation of a mounting mechanism. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an extended position of the mounting mechanism shown in sub-view A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a retracted position of the mounting mechanism shown in sub-view B of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of an example implementation of the mounting mechanism of  FIG. 2  attached to the loudspeaker housing before inserting the loudspeaker housing into an opening within a surface. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker housing and mounting mechanism partially within the opening. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker housing and mounting mechanism completely within the opening. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of one side of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the other side of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 14  is a rear elevational view of the example mounting clip shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a loudspeaker containment system  100  capable of being mounted within an opening in a surface (not shown), such as a wall or ceiling. As illustrated by  FIG. 1 , the loudspeaker containment system  100  includes a housing  104 , which may be inserted into an opening formed in a wall or other surface. The loudspeaker housing  104  is generally positioned flush against the surface and includes a baffle  102  that is positioned within a recessed area in the loudspeaker housing  104 . The baffle  102  will generally include at least one opening  160  for receiving and incorporating at least one loudspeaker  101 . As illustrated, the baffle  102  may also include a second opening  150  for receiving a second loudspeaker transducer  103 , such as a tweeter. Furthermore, each baffle  102  may include four isolation openings  118  at each of its corners for securing the baffle  102  to the housing  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the loudspeaker housing  104  showing an example implementation of a mounting mechanism  105  capable of securing the housing  104  within an opening in a surface (not shown). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the housing is designed with recesses  110  for receiving the mounting mechanism  105 . While  FIG. 2  only illustrates the use of one mounting mechanism  105  centrally located along one side of the housing  104 , any number of mounting mechanisms may be utilized in connection with the housing  104 . For example, the housing illustrated in  FIG. 2  is designed with ten recesses  110  for receiving mounting mechanisms  105 . Two recesses  110  are located on the top of the housing  104 , two are located on the bottom of the housing  104  and three recesses  110  are located on each side of the housing  104 . All the recesses  110  are capable of receiving a mounting mechanism  105 . The placement and number of the mounting mechanisms  105  used in connection with a housing  104  may vary depending upon design choice or subjective factors known to those skilled in the art, such as the size of the housing  104 , the type of the surface surrounding the opening or the placement or orientation in which the loudspeaker containment system  100  is to be mounted. 
     As will be illustrated in more detail below, each mounting mechanism  105  includes a mounting clip  112  that is retained within the recesses  110  of the housing  104  by a shaft  114 . The recesses  110  extend inward toward the interior of the housing  104 .The shaft  114  may be positioned through an opening  116  at the top of the recess  110  such that the shaft  114  extends downward into the recess  110  to engage the mounting clip  112 . The shaft  114  may be a threaded screw that may be rotated to adjust the positioning of the mounting mechanism  105  along the recess  110 . For example, sub-view A shows an extended position  106  of the mounting mechanism  105  within the recess  110  and sub-view B shows a retracted position  108  of the mounting mechanism  105  along the recess  110  of the housing  104 . As will be explained in more detail below, sub-view A generally represents the position of the mounting mechanism  105  prior to its placement within an opening. Sub-view B generally represents the general position of the mounting mechanism  105  after it has been positioned within the opening. When positioned within the opening, the outer edge of the mounting clip  112  is positioned just behind the back face of the surface surrounding the opening. Moving the mounting mechanism  105  to its retracted position brings the edge of the mounting clip  112  closer to the back face of the surface so that it may engage the back face of the surface and securely maintain the housing  104  within the opening in the surface. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the extended position  106  of the mounting mechanism  105  shown in sub-view A of  FIG. 2 . As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , the mounting clip  112  of the mounting mechanism  105  is positioned toward the rear of the housing  104 . 
     In comparison,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the retracted position  108  of the mounting mechanism  105  shown in sub-view B of  FIG. 2 . The mounting clip  112  of the mounting mechanism  105  is positioned forward in the recess  110  toward the front of the housing  104 . Moving the mounting clip  112  rearward and forward may be accomplished by adjusting the shaft  114  on which the mounting clip  112  is mounted. The shaft  114  may be adjusted at the point at which the shaft  114  is inserted through an opening  116  at the top of the recess  110 . For example, if the shaft  114  is a screw, one could move the mounting clip  112  forward and rearward by turning the head of the screw, which may be exposed in the interior portion of the housing  104  at the top of the recess  110 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of an example implementation of the mounting mechanism  105  of  FIG. 2  attached to the loudspeaker housing  104  as it is initially being inserted into an opening  120  within a surface  122 . The mounting mechanism  105  may include a shaft  114 , a mounting clip  112  and a spring mechanism  132 . The shaft  114  may include a top limit  128  and a bottom limit  130 . The mounting clip  112  may be arm member (also known as a radial member) that is capable of moving in a lateral direction in a geometric plane  134  that is tangential to the face  136  of the surface  122 . The lateral movement of the mounting clip  112  may be a result of interfacing with the opening  120  of the surface  122  and the spring mechanism  132 . The mounting clip  112  may be partially or totally composed of teflon®, nylon, delrin®, wood, rubber, metal, plastic, fiberglass, epoxy resin, or any other similar structural material capable of providing structural rigidity. 
     The shaft  114  is connected to the loudspeaker housing  104  and the mounting clip  112 . The shaft  114  may be any structural element capable of moving the mounting clip  112  rearward and forward relative to the face  136  of the surface  122 . The shaft  114  generally functions to extend or retract the mounting clip  112  along the recess  110  of the loudspeaker housing  104  relative to the face  136  of the surface  122 . The shaft  114  may include top and bottom limits  128  and  130 . The top limit  128  and bottom limit  130  may act to limit the range of motion of the mounting mechanism  105  along the shaft  114 . Examples of the top limit  128  and bottom limit  130  may include washers or other similar parts. The top limit  128  and bottom limit  130  may be part of the shaft  114  or separate parts connected to the shaft  114 . As an example, the shaft  114  may be threaded similar to a screw. In this example, the mounting clip  112  may have an interface section  138  that is connected to the shaft  114 . The interface section  138  may be part of the mounting clip  112  or a separate part that is connected to the shaft  114  and the mounting clip  112  via the spring mechanism  132 . In an example operation of the mounting mechanism  105 , the mounting clip  112  may move rearward along the shaft  114  in response to rotating the shaft  114  in one example direction and forward along shaft  114  in response to rotating the shaft  114  in the opposite direction. In the example of a threaded shaft  114 , the shaft  114  may have a shaft head  140 , such as a screw head, capable of rotating the shaft  114 . The shaft  114  may be partially or totally composed of teflon®, nylon, delrin®, wood rubber, metal, plastic, fiberglass, epoxy resin, or any other similar structural, material capable of providing structural rigidity. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker housing  104  and mounting mechanism  105  partially within the opening  120 . In  FIG. 6 , the loudspeaker housing  104  is moved partially into the opening  120 . In  FIG. 6 , the mounting clip  112  moves in a tangential direction  134  toward the loudspeaker housing  104  in response to the pressure caused by the side wall or edge  142  of the surface  122  in the opening  120 . In other words, the mounting clip  112  is being compressed inward toward the housing  104 . As an example of operation, the spring mechanism  132  is compressed by the mounting clip  112  in response to the pressure from the edge  142  of the surface  122  surrounding the opening. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the compression of spring mechanism  132  produces a spring force that opposes pressure caused by the edge  142 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the loudspeaker housing  104  and mounting mechanism  105  positioned completely within the opening  120 . In  FIG. 7 , once the loudspeaker housing  104  is placed within the opening  120  at a point in which the mounting clip  112  clears the edge  142 , the spring mechanism  132  causes the mounting clip  112  to move in the opposite lateral direction  134  from that in  FIG. 6 . It could also be said that the mounting clip  112  returns to its open position, whereas it is in a closed position when compressed inward by the edge  142  of the surface  122  of the opening  120 . As a result, when the spring of the spring mechanism  132  returns back to an uncompressed state, the position of mounting clip  112  is located behind or adjacent to the back face  144  of the surface  122 . Once the mounting clip  112  is located in this position, the shaft  114  may be utilized to move the mounting clip  112  forward to a position that engages the back face  144  of the surface  122 . The mounting clip  112  may include an attachment edge  146  for engaging the back face  144  of the surface  122 . As illustrated by  FIG. 7 , the attachment edge  146  may be formed to have grooves or teeth to help secure the tip of the mounting clip  112  to the back face  144  of the surface  122 . The shaft  114  may then be utilized to tighten the interface between the attachment edge  146  and the back face  144  to any desired level. In the case of a threaded shaft  114 , the shaft head  140  may be rotated as necessary. In the case of a sliding shaft  114 , the shaft head  140  may be pulled outward toward the face  136  of the surface  122 . 
     Removal of the loudspeaker housing  104  from the opening  120  is accomplished in a similar manner as the insertion of the housing  104  in the opening  120 . If the mounting clip  112  has been tightly secured against the back face  144  of the surface  122 , prior to removing the housing  104 , it may be desirable to extend the mounting clip  112  rearward, away from the back face  144  of the surface  122  by adjusting the shaft  114 . Once the mounting clip  112  has been moved away from the back face  144  of the surface  122 , the mounting clip  112  may be compressed in toward the loudspeaker housing  104  by a device or the hand of a user. The back of the housing  104  may be open, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to allow for a device or for a user to reach around the exterior perimeter of the housing  104  and engage the mounting clip  112 . Once the mounting clip  112  is compressed, the loudspeaker housing  104  may be removed from the opening  120  by pulling the loudspeaker housing  104  out of the opening  120 . 
     While any type of spring mounted mechanism capable of compressing when inserted into the opening and expanding to interface with the back face or side of the surrounding surface may utilized,  FIGS. 8-14  provide one example implementation of a mounting clip that may be used in connection with the mounting mechanism of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated by  FIG. 8 , the mounting clip  112  may include an arm portion  148 , a spring mechanism  132 , and an interface section  138  for connection to the shaft  114 . As previously discussed, the interface section  138  may be part of the mounting clip  112  or a separate part that is connected to the shaft  114  and the mounting clip  112  via the spring mechanism  132 . In operation, the interface section  138  remains stationary relative to the arm portion  148  of the mounting clip  112 . The interface section  138  is mounted to the shaft  114  and the spring mechanism  132  would extend between the arm portion  148  and the interface section  138 , such that the arm portion  148  would move relative to the mounting clip  112  via the spring mechanism  132  when the arm portion  148  is compressed and released. In this embodiment, the interface section  138  is positioned in a central cavity at the base of the arm portion  148 ; however, the arm portion  148  may be designed to receive or be connected to the interface section  138  in a different location, such as on one side of the arm portion  148 . 
     The mounting clip  112  may further include an attachment edge  146  located at the top edge or tip of the mounting clip  112  for engaging the back face  144  of the surface  122  surrounding the opening  120 . As illustrated, the attachment edge  146  may be formed to have grooves  168  or teeth to help secure the top edge of the mounting clip  112  to the back face  144  of the surface  122 . As previously discussed, the mounting clip  112  may be partially or totally composed of teflon®, nylon, delrin®, wood, rubber, metal, plastic, fiberglass, epoxy resin, or any other similar structural material capable of providing structural rigidity. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of one side of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 . As illustrated by  FIG. 9 , the arm portion  148  may have a base section  152  for receiving or communicating with an interface section  138  via a spring mounting mechanism  132 . A post (e.g., a shaft, boss, pin, axle, etc.)  156  may extend between the base section  152  and the interface section  138  (see also  FIG. 12 ), whereby the arm portion  148  and the base section  152  pivot about the axis of the post  156  relative to the interface section  138 . The arm portion  148  may further include an extended portion  162  that extends upward and is angled slightly outward and away from the base section  152 , such that the mounting clip  112 , when in its open position, can engage the back face  144  of the surface  122  surrounding the opening  120 . The top the extended portion  162  may include a horizontal or flat landing  166 , which can be designed to assist in engaging the back face  144  of the surface  122  surrounding the opening  120  when used to secure a housing  104  within an opening  120 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the other side of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 . Similar to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10  illustrates the mounting clip  112  having a base section  152  and extended portion  162  that extends upward and that is angled outward, slightly away from the base section  152 . While the interface section  138  is depicted in  FIGS. 8-10  as being a generally rectangular block, the shape, design and position of the interface section  138  may be varied according to design preferences. 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 11  shows the interface section  138  having a bore  154  extending through its central region. This bore  154  is designed to engage and receive the shaft  114  of the mounting mechanism  105 . If the shaft  114  is a threaded shaft, the bore  154  may also be threaded to receive the shaft  114  and to provide for the mounting clip  112  to move up and down the shaft  114 , in an extended and retracted position  106  and  108  about the housing  104 , depending upon the rotational direction of the shaft  114 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 11  is the generally flat landing portion  166  of the extended arm portion  148 . The flat portion  166  may include grooves  168  for enhancing its ability to engage the back face  144  of the surface  144  surrounding the housing  104 . 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 12  further illustrates that the bore  154  in the interface section  138  extends entirely through the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112 . 
       FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 13  illustrates the interface section  138  of this embodiment being positioned central to the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112 . 
       FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of the example mounting clip  112  shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 14  illustrates that the interface section  138  in this embodiment extends from the front to the rear side of the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112 . While in the illustrated embodiment, the interface section  138  extends from the front portion to the rear portion of the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112  and from the top portion to the bottom portion of the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112 , it is not necessary that the interface section  138  extend entirely through the base section  152  of the mounting clip  112 . 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.