IP Library Granted Patent US 7,986,804
Granted Patent B2
US 7,986,804 · App. 11/778,371 · Granted Jul 26, 2011

Audio speaker having a removable voice coil

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,986,804
App. No.
11/778,371
Granted
Jul 26, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio speaker having a removable voice coil, which may be a part of a voice coil assembly. The voice coil may be user-removable to facilitate replacement of a damaged voice coil or reconfiguration of a speaker system. Properly positioning the voice coil assembly may provide a solder-free electrical connection between the voice coil and leads that provide current to the voice coil. In some embodiments, the voice coil is user-removably attached to an inner circumferential surface of a diaphragm. In other embodiments, the voice coil is connected to the diaphragm, and the voice coil assembly and the diaphragm are both user-removably attached to a frame.

Claims (29)

1. An audio speaker, comprising:

a frame;

a diaphragm having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, wherein the diaphragm is removably attached to the frame; and

a voice coil assembly comprising a voice coil and a substrate, wherein the voice coil is wrapped about the substrate.

2. The audio speaker of claim 1 , further comprising a collar connected between the diaphragm and the voice coil assembly, the collar having an outer surface attached to the inner circumferential surface of the diaphragm.

3. The audio speaker of claim 2 , wherein the collar is integrated with the diaphragm.

4. The audio speaker of claim 2 , wherein the collar is adapted to slidably engage the voice coil assembly.

5. The audio speaker of claim 2 , wherein said collar further comprises an inner circumferential surface adapted to removably receive said voice coil assembly, and to position said voice coil assembly in a predetermined alignment.

6. The audio speaker of claim 2 , further comprising a pole, wherein the collar has a surface centered relative the pole.

7. The audio speaker of claim 2 , wherein the collar comprises a fastening mechanism.

8. The audio speaker of claim 7 , wherein the collar is adapted to receive a fastener.

9. The audio speaker of claim 8 , wherein the collar has an electrical contact attached thereto.

10. The audio speaker of claim 9 , further comprising a fastener, wherein the fastener electrically connects the voice coil to the electrical contact.

11. The audio speaker of claim 7 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises one of a snap fit mechanism and press fit mechanism.

12. The audio speaker of claim 9 , wherein the collar has a conductive line electrically coupled to the electrical contact, and integrated with the collar.

13. The audio speaker of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm and voice coil assembly are removable together.

14. The audio speaker of claim 1 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm is removably attached to the frame through a surround.

15. An audio speaker, comprising:

a speaker subassembly comprising a frame and a voice coil mount;

a diaphragm having an outer circumferential surface attached to the frame; and

a voice coil assembly comprising a voice coil, the voice coil assembly connected to the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is user-removably attached to the speaker subassembly.

16. The audio speaker of claim 15 , wherein the voice coil assembly is user-removably attached to the speaker subassembly.

17. An audio speaker subassembly, comprising:

a frame;

a diaphragm removably connected to the frame; and

a collar connected to the diaphragm, the collar being adapted to receive a voice coil assembly, wherein the voice coil assembly comprises a voice coil.

18. The audio speaker of claim 17 , wherein an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm is removably attached to the frame through a surround.

19. The audio speaker of claim 17 , wherein the collar is integrated with the diaphragm.

20. The audio speaker of claim 17 , wherein the collar is adapted to slidably engage the voice coil assembly.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0230) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 060003/0212 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0207) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 059988/0637 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; B & W GROUP LTD; SOUND UNITED, LLC; B & W LOUDSPEAKERS LTD; D&M HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0278 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0207 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0230 →
NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: DEI SALES, INC.; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; B & W GROUP LTD
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054300/0611 →
NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST -- PATENTS Recorded Mar 8, 2017
From: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; SOUND UNITED, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 041909/0611 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2017
From: MIZUHO BANK, LTD., LONDON BRANCH
To: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DIGITAL NETWORKS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 041843/0928 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 15, 2010
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.
To: MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., LONDON BRANCH AS OFFSHORE SECURITY TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 024686/0239 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2007
From: LINN, AARON; BLACKMON, LEIF
To: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019906/0464 →