IP Library Granted Patent US 8,634,586
Granted Patent B2
US 8,634,586 · App. 12/823,852 · Granted Jan 21, 2014

Ceiling-mounted loudspeaker enclosure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,634,586
App. No.
12/823,852
Granted
Jan 21, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ceiling-mounted loudspeaker includes a horn-shaped enclosure, an acoustic driver, and a front module. The tubular or horn-shaped enclosure carries a slanted woofer or loudspeaker driver which radiates into an angled or slanted first opening. The tubular enclosure terminates at bottom in a second, circular opening substantially parallel to a second plane, wherein the woofer's slanted plane is inclined with respect to the second plane. The slanted woofer can be oval and radiates sound through the enclosure's interior lumen and outwardly through ports defined in a substantially circular baffle carrying the front module and connected to the second opening. The baffle carries a midrange and tweeter near the ceiling where they can provide enhanced sound dispersion.

Claims (19)

1. A loudspeaker assembly, comprising:

(a) a tubular enclosure comprising a first opening substantially parallel to a first plane and communicating through an interior lumen with a second opening substantially parallel to a second plane, said tubular enclosure having a solid gas-impermeable sidewall between said first opening and said second opening; wherein the first plane is inclined with respect to the second plane at an acute angle;

(b) an acoustic driver connected to the first opening for transmitting an acoustic output sound through the tubular enclosure's interior lumen to the second opening;

(c) said tubular enclosure having a speaker module connected to the second opening; wherein the tubular enclosure first opening is a top opening which is substantially parallel to the first plane and said second opening is a bottom opening which is substantially parallel to the second plane; wherein the acoustic driver is secured in the top opening;

(d) wherein the speaker module is secured in the bottom opening of the tubular enclosure, and wherein the area of the first opening exceeds that of the second opening;

(e) wherein the top opening is substantially oval in shape;

(f) wherein the bottom opening is substantially circular in shape;

(g) wherein said acoustic driver connected to said first opening comprises a first low frequency acoustic driver secured in the top opening of the tubular enclosure; and said speaker module secured in the bottom opening of the tubular enclosure has a baffle plate extending across said bottom opening and carrying at least first and second acoustic ports in said baffle plate for transmitting acoustic waves from said first driver out of said enclosure;

(h) wherein said speaker module includes at least a second higher frequency acoustic driver mounted over a corresponding opening in said baffle plate for directing acoustic waves from said second driver downwardly and away from said baffle plate;

(i) wherein said tubular enclosure's interior lumen is in fluid communication with said first and second acoustic ports; and wherein said tubular enclosure's interior lumen, said first port and said second port are dimensioned to provide a tuned port loudspeaker system adapted to project low-pass limited acoustic waves from said first driver, wherein said tuned port loudspeaker system is tuned to provide selected port resonant frequency; and

(j) wherein said second higher frequency acoustic driver is configured to radiate over a natural pass-band frequency range, and said selected port resonant frequency being below the natural pass-band frequency range of said second, higher frequency driver.

2. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular enclosure is horn shaped and has a bent structure.

3. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projection area of the first opening onto the second plane is smaller than the second opening.

4. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1 , further including:

a fastener for securing the assembly in an aperture in a ceiling structure; and

a trim ring incorporating a flange engaging said speaker module and cooperating with said fastener to mount the assembly in a ceiling.

5. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tubular enclosure further comprises a recess for receiving said fastener.

6. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular enclosure further comprises first and second resin semicylindrical bodies each semicylindrical body defining a solid gas-impermeable sidewall, wherein said first and second semicylindrical bodies are joined to each other to form the tubular enclosure, and to define the first and second openings.

7. The loudspeaker assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first and second semicylindrical resin bodies are injection molded.

Assignments (16)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2024
From: SMITH, L. J.; LUMSDEN, STUART W.; ORTH, SCOTT
To: POLK AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 068002/0339 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 8, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR AGENT TO FS INVESTMENT CORPORATION)
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; BOOM MOVEMENT, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC
Reel/Frame 041912/0880 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: ANTERES CAPITAL LP (AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION)
To: VIPER BORROWER CORPORATION, INC.; VIPER HOLDINGS CORPORATION; VIPER ACQUISITION CORPORATION; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; DEI INTERNATIONAL, INC.; DEI HEADQUARTERS, INC.; POLK HOLDING CORP.; POLK AUDIO, INC.; POLK AUDIO, LLC; BOOM MOVEMENT, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC
Reel/Frame 041895/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 25, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 036687/0711 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2014
From: POLK AUDIO, LLC; BOOM MOVEMENT, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS US AGENT
Reel/Frame 032631/0742 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2014
From: POLK AUDIO, LLC; BOOM MOVEMENT, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 032632/0548 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2014
From: POLK AUDIO, INC.
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC
Reel/Frame 032502/0989 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 13, 2011
From: VIPER BORROWER CORPORATION; VIPER HOLDINGS CORPORATION; VIPER ACQUISITION CORPORATION; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; DEI INTERNATIONAL, INC.; DEI HEADQUARTERS, INC.; POLK HOLDING CORPORATION; POLK AUDIO, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026587/0386 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2010
From: SMITH, L J, MR.
To: POLK AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 025107/0963 →