US3692264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shock isolation mounts for fragile devices
Assignee: Industrial Research Products Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-13
•
Granted: 1972-09-19
•
Expires: 1990-07-13
Abstract
Abstract Shock isolation mounts for miniature microphones, sound reproducers, and other fragile devices, in which the device is suspended between thin film support members mounted on a rigid frame in a configuration such that shock stresses of substantial magnitude occurring in either direction along a given path are absorbed almost entirely by tensional stress of one or more of the film support members. Vibration isolation is also provided, separately from the shock isolation, by means of one or more vibration absorption elements, formed of rubber or other material of high resilience and high compliance in compression, interposed between the fragile device and support members or between the support members and the frame or between the frame and an external support structure. The support members are usually made of plastic, such as a polyester film, and may be pre-formed to fit the external configuration of the transducer or other device or may be flat strips with no pre-forming required.
Inventors
- 👤 Mahlon D Burkhard
- 👤 Russell J Maxwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/08; F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/42; F16F1/422; F16F1/424; G; G04; G04B; G04B43/00; G04B43/002; F16F2236/00; F16F2236/02; F16F2236/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A shock isolation mount for mounting a miniature transducer or like small, relatively fragile device witHin a housing, and for protecting that device against shock damage from excessive acceleration in either direction along a given path, the minimum spacing from the device to the housing along that path being a distance D, comprising: a first thin, flat film support member, formed of a lowcompliance material having a high modulus of elasticity, extending across one side of said device approximately normal to said path; a second thin, flat film support member, formed of a lowcompliance material having a high modulus of elasticity extending across the other side of said device, said device being wholly supported by said support members; each of said support members having a width many times greater than its thickness; and rigid frame means, connected to said housing and engaging said support members in broad area contact, beyond the periphery of said device, to complete an assembly, the configuration of said frame means, said support members, and said device being such that stresses of substantial magnitude produced by acceleration of said housing and said frame means in either direction along said path are absorbed primarily by tensional strain, of limited amplitude less than said distance D, of one of said film support members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A shock isolation mount for mounting a miniature transducer or like small, relatively fragile device witHin a housing, and for protecting that device against shock damage from excessive acceleration in either direction along a given path, the minimum spacing from the device to the housing along that path being a distance D, comprising: a first thin, flat film support member, formed of a lowcompliance material having a high modulus of elasticity, extending across one side of said device approximately normal to said path; a second thin, flat film support member, formed of a lowcompliance material having a high modulus of elasticity extending across the other side of said device, said device being wholly supported by said support members; each of said support members having a width many times greater than its thickness; and rigid frame means, connected to said housing and engaging said support members in broad area contact, beyond the periphery of said device, to complete an assembly, the configuration of said frame means, said support members, and said device being such that stresses of substantial magnitude produced by acceleration of said housing and said frame means in either direction along said path are absorbed primarily by tensional strain, of limited amplitude less than said distance D, of one of said film support members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which each of said support members is a flat, flexible strip of plastic film stretched tautly across said frame means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which said frame means, at the point of engagement with said film support members, is padded with a material having high resilience and high compliance in compression to afford vibration isolation for said device and to preclude excessive localized stressing of the film under shock conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which at least one vibration absorption element, of high resilience and high compliance in compression, is interposed between each of said support members and said device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which at least one vibration absorption element of high resilience and high compliance in compression, is interposed between each of said support members and said frame means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which each of said thin film support members is a plastic film having a high modulus of elasticity pre-formed into a cup-like configuration conforming to one-half of said device and having a projecting flange engaged by said frame means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 6, in which the outer rim of the cup portion of each film support member is spaced inwardly of the point of engagement of that support member with said frame means to allow limited flexure of that rim and thereby afford vibration isolation for said device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which said frame means comprises a pair of rigid mounting members located on opposite sides of said device and in which the end portions of each of said support members are at least partially wrapped around said mounting members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 8, in which said housing comprises an external frame for supporting said assembly, and in which at least one vibration absorption element, of high resilience and high compliance in compression, is interposed between said external frame and each of said mounting members to afford vibration isolation as well as shock isolation for said device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 8, in which said housing comprises an external frame for supporting said assembly, and in which a plurality of individual rubber vibration absorption elements are interposeD between each of said mounting members and said external frame to afford vibration isolation as well as shock isolation for said device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 8, in which there are at least three thin film support members, all of tubular configuration, with said rigidity mounting members and said device threaded thereinto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 11, in which the tubular thin film support members are separate from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 11, in which the tubular thin film support members are all part of a single unitary tube, slit transversely at spaced points.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 1, in which said frame means comprises a pair of rigid ring-like mounting members and in which the peripheral portions of said support members are clamped between said mounting members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 14, in which said housing comprises an external frame for supporting said assembly, and in which at least one vibration absorption element, of high resilience and high compliance in compression, is interposed between said external frame and each of said mounting members to afford vibration isolation as well as shock isolation for said device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 14, in which said housing comprises an external frame for supporting said assembly, and in which a plurality of individual rubber vibration absorption elements are interposed between each of said mounting members and said external frame to afford vibration isolation as well as shock isolation for said device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 14, in which said housing comprises an external frame slotted to receive said assembly, and in which said support members project outwardly of said mounting members to isolate said mounting members from said external frame and to center said assembly within said external frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 17, in which the outwardly projecting portion of each of said support members is looped back to afford a high-compliance vibration absorption element interposed between one of said mounting members and said external frame to afford vibration isolation therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 14, in which each of said film support members is bonded to the surfaces of a respective one of said mounting members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A shock isolation mount for a fragile miniature device, according to claim 19, in which said film support members are each bent over a respective mounting member, and further comprising an external band clamping each support member to its mounting member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |