Patent ID: 7664278

Claim:
An acoustic device comprising: a casing including a window frame in which a display window is defined; a vibratory sound panel including a display region and an exciter mount region adjacent to the display region, the vibratory sound panel having a peripheral edge; a suspension disposed between the display frame and the peripheral edge of the vibratory sound panel to support the vibratory sound panel on the window frame of the casing; a display assembly mounted within the casing adjacent to the display region and including a display screen visible through the display region, the casing having a first space defined between the display screen and the vibratory sound panel and having a second space surrounding the first space; an exciter mounted to the exciter mount region and located within the casing, the exciter being operated to cause the vibratory sound panel to vibrate in response to an electric signal; and a dust barrier for isolating the first space from the second space to prevent entry of dust from the second space into the first space, the dust barrier including a dust barrier member disposed between the display region and the exciter mount region and extending across the vibratory sound panel to inhibit dust particles from moving from the exciter mount region to the display region within the casing, the dust barrier member being yieldingly deformable in response to vibration of the vibratory sound panel; the dust barrier member sealingly engaged with the vibratory sound panel and the display screen, the dust barrier member having a first end engaged with the vibratory sound panel and having a second end engaged with the display screen, and the first end and the second end of the dust barrier member being disposed so that a line connecting the first and second ends of the dust barrier member is angled to an imaginary line that extends at right angles to the vibratory sound panel and the display screen.