US4939784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loudspeaker structure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-09-19
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Granted: 1990-07-03
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Expires: 2008-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A dipole loudspeaker includes a rigid support containing an opening and a generally planar multi-layered flexible diaphragm mounted on the support and extending across the opening. The diaphragm is formed of a plurality of layers of thin flexible membrane material, each of the layers having a different height and containing a thin electrical conductor arranged in a predetermined pattern on one surface thereof. The conductor patterns on each of the membranes have different masses, whereby the membrane defines along its height areas of various thickness and varying mass whereby the membrane is suitable for more accurately reproducing or generating high and low frequencies when the electrical conductors are connected with a source of sound signal currents. A plurality of magnets are mounted in spaced relation opposite at least one surface of the membrane and the conductor patterns for vibrating the membrane to reproduce the sound in response to the sound signal currents through the conductor. A flexible connection is provided between the membrane and the support along at least one side edge at the lower portion thereof to provide lateral flexing of the membrane side edges while maintaining the edges substantially in the plane of the diaphragm. This flexible connection of the lower portion of the membrane side edges permits long excursion of the diaphragm and a direction toward and away from the magnet in order to more accurately reproduce low frequencies. An acoustic filter is provided on the loudspeaker support for attenuating rearwardly directed low frequencies without impeding long excursion of the diaphragm. The membrane and support are also designed to provide directionality and an accurate three-dimensional image of sound.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Bruney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R9/00; H04R9/02; H04R9/04; H04R9/046; H04R9/047; H04R1/00; H04R1/20; H04R1/32; H04R1/34; H04R1/345; H04R1/347; H04R7/00; H04R7/02; H04R7/04; H04R7/06; H04R7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A dipole loud speaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through-opening; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A dipole loud speaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through-opening; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 1, wherein said thin electrical conductor means comprises at least one thin flat conductor formed of aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 2, and further comprising means for connecting the remaining edges of said diaphragm with said support around said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 3, wherein said flexible means connects at least two opposite side edges of said diaphragm with said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 4, wherein said opening comprises a polygon shaped opening having opposed sides, and opposed ends between said sides, and said flexible means are mounted on said support along said opposed sides of said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 5, wherein said opening has a lower portion having a generally rectangular configuration and an upper portion having a generally triangular configuration, and further wherein said flexible means connects said diaphragm with said support along the edges of the rectangular portion of said opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 5, and further comprising adhesive means for connecting said diaphragm with said support along the edges of the triangular portion of said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 7, wherein said conductor means comprises first and second conductors having first and second masses arranged opposite said rectangular and triangular portions of said opening, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 1, wherein said support comprises baffle means including a filter chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 1, and further comprising taper means connected with said support about a portion of said opening for varying the degree of excursion movement of said diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
214 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through opening, said support comprising front, rear, side, top, and bottom walls defining a rectangular baffle chamber, said opening being contained in said front and rear walls and communicating with said chamber; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means, said baffle chamber defining filter means for attenuating low frequencies; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of salad diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is avoided.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through opening, said support comprising front, rear, side, top, and bottom walls defining a rectangular baffle chamber, said opening being contained in said front and rear walls and communicating with said chamber; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means, said baffle chamber defining filter means for attenuating low frequencies; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of salad diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is avoided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 11, and further comprising reflector means connected with said support rear wall and extending across said opening behind said magnet means for obliquely reflecting high frequency components from the rear of the loudspeaker.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 12, wherein said reflector means comprises at least one layer of cloth material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 12, wherein said support rear wall contains a plurality of apertures communicating with said chamber, said apertures being arranged adjacent to said support top wall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 14, wherein said diaphragm comprises a plurality of stacked layers of membrane material, each of said layers having a different length and having said first and second conductor means mounted thereon to define regions of said diaphragm having greater thickness with greater conductor mass and regions of lesser thickness with lesser conductor mass for bass and treble responses, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
227 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through-opening having a lower portion of a generally rectangular configuration and an upper portion of a generally triangular configuration; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting the side edges of said diaphragm with said support along the edges of the rectangular portion of said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, the width of said opening opposite said membrane being at least equal to the wavelength of the audio output for the corresponding portion of said membrane thereby to provide three dimensional sound imaging and long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
227 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through-opening having a lower portion of a generally rectangular configuration and an upper portion of a generally triangular configuration; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means arranged in a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the membrane and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting the side edges of said diaphragm with said support along the edges of the rectangular portion of said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, the width of said opening opposite said membrane being at least equal to the wavelength of the audio output for the corresponding portion of said membrane thereby to provide three dimensional sound imaging and long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 16, wherein said conductor means for said corresponding membrane portion has a selected configuration providing an output having the desired wavelength when sound signal currents are supplied.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 17, wherein said support comprises baffle means including a filter chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A loudspeaker as defined in claim 18, wherein said diaphragm comprises a plurality of stacked layers of membrane material, each of said layers having a different length and having said conductor means mounted thereon to define regions of said diaphragm having greater thickness with greater conductor mass and regions of lesser thickness with lesser conductor mass for bass and treble responses, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
263 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through opening having a lower portion of a generally rectangular configuration and an upper portion of a generally triangular configuration; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means including first and second conductors having first and second masses arranged opposite said rectangular and triangular portions of said opening, respectively, and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents, said first and second conductors being arranged on first and second areas of said membrane material, respectively, said material being folded to define a multi-layer membrane material having a plurality of layers of first and second conductors with layers of membrane material arranged therebetween to define areas of high conductor mass and areas of low conductor mass for bass and treble responses, respectively; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is provided.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
263 words
A dipole loudspeaker, comprising (a) a support containing a through opening having a lower portion of a generally rectangular configuration and an upper portion of a generally triangular configuration; (b) a generally planar diaphragm mounted on said support and extending across said opening, said diaphragm including (1) at least one layer of thin flexible membrane material; and (2) thin electrical conductor means including first and second conductors having first and second masses arranged opposite said rectangular and triangular portions of said opening, respectively, and adapted for connection with a source of sound signal currents, said first and second conductors being arranged on first and second areas of said membrane material, respectively, said material being folded to define a multi-layer membrane material having a plurality of layers of first and second conductors with layers of membrane material arranged therebetween to define areas of high conductor mass and areas of low conductor mass for bass and treble responses, respectively; (c) magnet means mounted in spaced relation opposite one surface of said diaphragm and said conductor means for vibrating said diaphragm to reproduce sound in response to sound signal currents through said conductor means; and (d) flexible means for connecting at least one side edge of said diaphragm with said support adjacent said opening to permit lateral flexing of said diaphragm side edges within the plane containing said diaphragm while preventing longitudinal flexing of said edges in the excursion direction beyond the diaphragm plane, whereby long excursion of the median portion of said diaphragm in a direction toward and away from said magnet means is provided.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-02 | 1994-01-01 | 1994-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-02 | 1998-01-01 | 1998-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-02 | 2002-01-01 | 2002-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |