US3160225A

US3160225A - Sound reproduction system

Info

Publication number: US3160225A
Application number: US188338A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L Sechrist
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-18
Filing date: 1962-04-18
Publication date: 1964-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1964 Filed April 18, 1962 E. L. SECHRIST SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EDWARD L. SECHRIST SMM M ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1964 E. L. SECHRIST SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1962 FIG. 5

FIG.

INVENTOR.

EDWARD L. SECHRIST BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1964 E. L. SECHRIST SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1962 7 P as 24 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill/IA INVENTOR.

EDWARD L. SECHRIST ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,16tl,2-25 SUUNE) REPRQDUCTIGN Sh l Edward L. dechrist, Syracuse, llnd. Filed Apr. 18, 1962, Ser. No. lllhfid-tl 6 *Claims. ll. llfil -El) The present invention relates to a sound reproduction system and more particularly to sound reproduction systerns of thin silhouette construction for use primarily in stereo and hi-fi systems.

With the increase in popularity in recent years of stereophonic-high fidelity sound equipment and with the lowering of costs tor quality equipment, the market has been greatly expanded for homes, ofiices and commercial establishments. However, the conventional speaker enclosures are relatively deep and large, and are not sufficiently versatile to permit them to be advantageously placed for most effective stereo sound reproduction, or in some instances to be installed and used satisfactorily. This is particularly true in small homes, apartments and business places of limited or crowded area. Efforts have been made in the past to develop and perfect thin silhouette speakers for stereo and high fidelity systems; however, difiiculty has been encountered in obtaining the natural bass and low tones without the use ot enclosures or" substantial depth. it is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a high fidelity sound reproduction sytem which utilizes a thin silhouette enclosure without sacrificing optimum tone quality and range, and which is more compact and versatile for all uses than the conventional enclosures, either stand, table or console, or permanently installed cabinet or wall types.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound reproduction system and enclosure which is sufiiciently thin, small in size and light in weight that it can be hung on a wall in the same manner as a conventional picture and which provides a relatively large panel within a frame for receiving a picture, mural or attractive grid which renders the overall appearance similar to that of a conventional picture or decorative piece.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wall-type stereophonic speaker having a thin silhouette and yet being capable of producing the high quality tone reproduction over the complete high fidelity range as the standard console speakers.

A further object is to provide a thin stereo speaker onclosure which can be easily moved and installed at any advantageous place and which is simple in construction and design, utilizing a series of longitudinal or vertical superposed forward to back channels or chambers to reproduce characteristic high quality low and bass tones.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stereo phonic and or high fidelity sound reproduction unit having a compound sound chamber for reproducing the seven basic music tones, with a chamber for each tone to produce the proper resonance and vibration.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational View of a stereophonie high fidelity sound reproducing enclosure embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the sound reproduction enclosure shown in FlGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the sound reproduction enclosure shown in FEGURES 1 and 2, with the picture shown thereon removed in order to show certain details and relationships in the construction of the present system;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the inside of the sound reproduction enclosure with the back of the hce enclosure removed, in order to illustrate the relationship of the various parts forming the structure;

5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the enclosure embodying the present system, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the present sound reproduction system;

FEGURE 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the unit shown in FIGURE 6, the section being taken on line 7-7 or FIGURE 6; and

FEGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross section View of the enclosure illustrated in FlZGURlES 6 and 7, showing the upper end of a modified sound chamber structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, numeral 1% designates generally the enclosure for the present sound reproduction system, only the frame 12 and a picture it being visible when the enclosure is mounted on the wall or other suitable supporting structure. The picture, which is merely decorative, consists of a porous cloth or canvas having any suitable picture, as an original or reproduction, thereon. As is seen in FEGURE 2, the frame is relatively shallow resembles a conventional picture frame with the front edge 16 thereof being somewhat smaller than the rear edge 18.

The frame consists of two vertical side members 29 and 2-2, a top member 24, and a bottom member 26, the four members being joined at the corners and secured rigidly together by glue, cement or other suitable securing means and by a locking strip 28 in each corner, the joint being reinforced if desired by one or more nails or pins in the corners. The front panel 3% on which cloth 14 is loosely placed is preferably constructed of a one piece pressed or particle board and is secured rigidly in place in frame 1.2. against shoulder 32 along the inner edge of the frame. The front panel 36* is secured firmly against shoulder 32 by vertical strips 34 and 36 along the opposite edges of the panel, and upper and lower strips 33 and ll respectively, the strips being firmly attached to the frame by glue, cement and screws or brads. The structure thus far described is rigid and, once formed, is not intended to be disassembled either for shipping, installation or repairs.

Previous to the present invention, it had been diificult to obtain good. bass response without a large enclosure. The present invention as embodied in the enclosure shown in the drawings has made it possible to reduce the size and provide a thin silhouette structure which gives optimum tones throughout the entire range, i.e. the unit is constructed and designed to produce a full undistorted frequency range with elimination or minimizing of sympathetic vibrations in the frame or enclosure structure.

The present thin silhouette enclosure has been partly made possible by the development in recent years of a speaker having a low silhouette frame of good tone quality; however, this type of speaker has not in and of itself produced the desired low or bass tone quality in the past without a conventional, relatively deep enclosure.

The present structure has eliminated the requirement of a deep enclosure by incorporating in the present thin silhouette enclosure a special bass and low tone sound chamber, designated generally in the drawings by nureral in the present unit, a large circular opening 42 is provided in the lower portion of front panel 3d for speaker 35, which is secured to the back side of front panel by a plurality of screws or bolts 4 3, extending through the rim of too speaker and through holes in the panel along the edge of opening 42. The

- details of the speaker will not be described herein inasmuch as the construction and operation of the speaker are well known and readily available from commercia sources.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the front panel is provided with an elongated bass slot 59, positioned horizontally in the upper end of front panel 3t) and extending a substantial distance thereacross. This slot which is preferably rectangular in shape is placed at the upper end of sound chamber 41, which consists of a panel 52 paralleling front panel 30 and two side wall members 54- and 5e secured by glue or cement to the inner side of front panel 30 and to sound chamber panel 52, forming a rigid wall structure defining the sound chamber. The lower and upper ends of the sound chamber are open to permit the sound and air vibrations created by speaker 43 to enter the sound chamber unobstructed and to transmit the sound to and discharge it from slot 5'!) without distortion or sympathetic vibration. As shown in the drawings, the upper end of the sound chamber, while being the smaller end of the chamber, overlaps bass slot 5% throughout substantially its full length; however, the slot is exposed at the lefthand side, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to the internal chamber of the enclosure, thus permitting the full effect of the internal chamber with respect to the lower tones to be utilized in producing undistorted, natural low tones produced by the speaker.

The enclosure is sound insulated by fiberglas layers 60, or other suitable material, placed throughout the length of the internal side walls and throughout the entire center portion of back panel 62, as shown in FIGURE 5, the insulating material preferably being secured to the internal walls and back panel by glue or cement, without the use of any metallic securing means, such as staples, brads or nails. The wiring for the speaker is shown in FIGURE 4, consisting of two lead wires 64 and 66, entering the enclosure at terminal 6% at the top thereof. The terminal may be placed at any other suitable location, depending upon the intended installation. The assembled unit is supported on a wall in much the same manner as a conventional picture with fixtures being attached to the back side 18 of frame 12. along the upper half thereof. Preferably, the enclosure contacts the wall only at the lower portion, thereby leaving an air space between the enclosure and the wall for further effective sound resonating purposes.

The embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, is substantially the same as shown in the previously described figures, with the exception of the sound chamber hi) and slot 82, and hence like numerals will be used to designate like parts. In this modified form, the sound chamber which increases in size from the lower end adjacent speaker 43 to bass slot 82, consists of eight basic chambers, numerals 8d, 86, 85, 9t), 92, 94%, as and 98, of compartments A and B, separated by vertical strips or partitions 1&2, ltld, 1%, 1%, 11b, 112, 114 and lid, secured to panels 126*, 122, 124, 126, 12d, 13%, 132 and 134 respectively, to form the individual basic tone chambers. The external edges of the chambers are formed by wall members or strips 138, separating the various panels. The sound chamber of the foregoing construction is secured rigidly to the internal side of panel and the lower ends of the respective chambers are open and adjacent to the speaker, and the upper ends of the respective chambers terminate along slot 37.. In this modification, the bass slot is slightly longer and wider than slot 5d and is substantially embraced by the sound chamber.

in both forms system disclosed herein, better bass reproduction is obtained by tilting the upper edge of the speaker away from the rear of the front panel approximately one-quarter of an inch while retaining the lower edge against the panel. The modified form of the present sound reproduction system is assembled and mounted on the wall in the same manner as the embodiment of the invention previously described. in both of the embodiments, a suitable picture or other a, type of grid is placed over the entire front panel and secured thereon only at its edges.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made to satisfy requirements.

I claim:

1. A sound reproduction system, comprising a wooden frame, a front panel in said frame adjacent the front edge thereof having a large circular opening in the lower portion thereof and offset to one side, a speaker of low silhouette mounted on the rear side of said panel and secured rigidly thereto over said opening, an elongated rectangular bass and low tone slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a panel having upwardly and outwardly tapered sides and a small open end at the bottom and a large end at the top and being spaced from the parallel with said front panel and having its small end toward the speaker, walls along the two sides of said last mentioned panel, said chamber being open at the bottom adjacent to the speaker and communicating at its upper end with said slot, a panel forming a back secured to the rear edge of said frame, and sound insulating material on the internal walls of said frame and on said last mentioned panel.

2. A sound reproduction system, comprising a frame, a front panel in said frame adjacent the front edge thereof having a large circular opening in the lower portion thereof, decorative material over said panel on the front thereof, .a speaker mounted on the rear side of said panel and secured rigidly thereto over said opening, an elongated rectangular bass and low tone slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a panel having upwardly and outwardly tapered sides and a small open end at the bottom and a large end at the top and being spaced from and parallel with said front panel and having its small end toward the speaker, walls along the two sides of said last mentioned panel, said chamber being open at the bottom adjacent to the speaker and communicating at its upper end with said slot, and a panel forming a back secured to the rear edge of said frame.

3. A sound reproduction system, comprising a frame, a front panel in said frame adjacent the front edge thereof having a large circular opening in the lower portion, a speaker mounted on the rear side of said panel and secured rigidly thereto over said opening, an elongated rectangular bass and low tone slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a series of panels having upwardly and outwardly tapered sides and a small open end at the bottom and a large end at the top and being spaced from one another and parallel with said front panel forming a series of eight compartments, the small end of which being disposed adjacent to the upper edge of the speaker, the large end of which being disposed adjacent to and incommunication with said slot, vertical partitions dividing each of said compartments, and a panel forming a back secured to the rear edge of said frame.

4. A sound reproduction system, comprising a frame, a front panel in said frame adjacent the front edge thereof having an opening in the lower portion, a speaker mounted on the rear side of said panel over said opening, an elongated bass and low tone slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a series of panels having upwardly and outwardly tapered sides and a small open end at the bottom and a large end at the top and being spaced from one another and parallel with said front panel forming a series of compartments, the small end of which being disposed adjacent to the upper edge U of the speaker, and the large end of which being disposed adjacent to and in communication with said slot.

5. In a sound reproduction system: a front panel having an opening in the lower portion, a speaker mounted on the rear side of said panel over said opening, an elongated slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, and a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a series of panels having up- Wardly and outwardly tapered sides and a small open end at the bottom and a large end at the top and being spaced from one another and parallel With said front panel forming a series of compartments, the small end of which being disposed adjacent to the upper edge of the speaker, the large end of which being disposed adjacent to and in communication with said slot.

6. In a sound reproduction system: a front panel having an opening in the lower portion, a speaker mounted on the rear side of said panel over said opening, an elongated slot positioned horizontally adjacent the upper end of said front panel, and a sound chamber construction positioned between said opening and slot adjacent said front panel and including a series of parallel panels being spaced from one another and parallel with said front panel forming a series of compartments, interposed between and communicating with said speaker and slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,757,751 Tavares Aug. 7, 1956 2,792,069 Gately May 14, 1957 2,840,181 Wildman June 24, 1958 2,992,695 Everitt July 18, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,684 Australia Dec. 2, 1937

Claims

1. A SOUND REPRODUCTION SYSTEM, COMPRISING A WOODEN FRAME, A FRONT PANEL IN SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE FRONT EDGE THEREOF HAVING A LARGE CIRCULAR OPENING IN THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND OFFSET TO ONE SIDE, A SPEAKER OF LOW SILHOUETTE MOUNTED ON THE REAR SIDE OF SAID PANEL AND SECURED RIGIDLY THERETO OVER SAID OPENING, AN ELONGATED RECTANGULAR BASS AND LOW TONE SLOT POSITIONED HORIZONTALLY ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID FRONT PANEL, A SOUND CHAMBER CONSTRUCTION POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID OPENING AND SLOT ADJACENT SAID FRONT PANEL AND INCLUDING A PANEL HAVING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TAPERED SIDES AND A SMALL OPEN END AT THE BOTTOM AND A LARGE END AT THE TOP AND BEING SPACED FROM THE PARALLEL WITH SAID FRONT PANEL AND HAVING ITS SMALL END TOWARD THE SPEAKER, WALLS ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF SAID LAST MENTIONED PANEL, SAID CHAMBER BEING OPEN AT THE BOTTOM ADJACENT TO THE SPEAKER AND COMMUNICATING AT ITS UPPER END WITH SAID SLOT, A PANEL FORMING A BACK SECURED TO THE REAR EDGE OF SAID FRAME, AND SOUND INSULAT-