IP Library Granted Patent US 11,039,233
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,233 · App. 16/443,715 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Sound bar with various couplings

Inventors: Larry Vansickel (Phoenix, AZ); Wang Hai (Ningbo, CN); Gu Wendong (Ningbo, CN); Zhou Liang (Ningbo, CN); Wang Youcai (Ningbo, CN)
H04R1/026F21V33/0056G06F3/165H04R1/023H04R1/025H04R1/24H04R1/2834F21Y2115/10H04R2201/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,233
App. No.
16/443,715
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sound bar system has couplings adaptable to irregular mounting challenges. An arcuate panel extends from a top edge of a front rectangular frame to a rear edge of a bottom rectangular frame. The arcuate panel has a plurality of parallel sets of three unique slots for receiving corresponding three-legged nuts for attaching clamps or similar connectors having 360° of rotational freedom. Single-legged sliders, each with a threaded rod extension, may also be used in one slot of said three unique slots. End brackets with 360° of rotational freedom and adjustable extension support the sound bar by the arcuate panel, not the end panels. More than one set of slots may be used in a single installation.

Claims (144)

1. A sound bar system comprising a sound bar further comprising:

a. a housing having:

i. a flat rectangular bottom frame;

ii. a front rectangular frame extending upward from an angled frame section extending from a front portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame; and

iii. an arcuate housing wall extending from a top portion of said front rectangular frame to a rear portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame;

b. an arrangement of loudspeakers within said housing;

c. a plurality of sets of three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots in said arcuate housing wall;

d. wherein said three mutually unique parallel slots comprise:

i. a central slot having an expanded lower cross section with a narrower rectangular throat;

ii. a first side slot spaced apart from a first side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot; and

iii. a second side slot spaced apart from a second opposed side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot.

2. The sound bar system of claim 1 , comprising at least one three-legged nut having:

a. three legs shaped conformally to said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots;

b. a top surface shaped conformally to a mounting surface to be engaged; and

c. a threaded bore through said top surface and through a central leg of said three legs.

3. The sound bar system of claim 2 , comprising a clamp having:

a. a bottom portion having:

i. a bottom surface conformal to said top surface of said three-legged nut;

ii. a hole through said bottom portion of said clamp, through said bottom surface of said bottom portion of said clamp, and alignable to said threaded bore of said three-legged nut;

iii. a threaded fastener receivable in said hole and into said threaded bore;

iv. first and second fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said bottom portion of said clamp;

b. a top portion having third and fourth fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said top portion alignable to said first and second fastener openings, respectively; and

c. wherein interior surfaces of said bottom and top portions of said clamp define a cross sectional shape of a mounting support for receiving said clamp, when installed.

4. The sound bar system of claim 3 , wherein said clamp has 360 degrees of rotational freedom when being installed.

5. The sound bar system of claim 1 , comprising a single-legged slider coupling having:

a. an elongated slider leg having a cross sectional shape corresponding to a lower expansion of a slot of said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots; and

b. a threaded stem extending transversely from said elongated slider leg.

6. The sound bar system of claim 1 , comprising;

a. first and second end panels closing respective first and second ends of said sound bar; and

b. first and second anti-rotation sockets in respective first and second end panels.

7. The sound bar system of claim 6 , comprising first and second end couplings adapted to be coupled to respective opposed ends of said arcuate housing wall.

8. The sound bar system of claim 7 , wherein each said end coupling of said first and second end couplings comprises:

a. a coupling base plate having:

i. a bore through said coupling base plate adapted to receive a bolt with an anti-rotational head shaped corresponding to said anti-rotational socket;

ii. a slider stem:

1. extending transversely from said bracket base plate;

2. having a cross section corresponding to a slot of said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots;

3. having a plurality of threaded bores transverse to said slider stem; and

4. having an equal said plurality of threaded fasteners;

b. a bracket having:

i. an adjustment slot for receiving a threaded stem of said bolt;

ii. a receiving surface shaped conformally to a mounting surface to be engaged; and

iii. a fastener opening through said receiving surface; and

c. hardware for securing said bolt.

9. The sound bar system of claim 1 , comprising:

a. a first foraminous front grill attachable to said front frame;

b. a second foraminous grill attachable to said bottom frame;

c. a first plurality of passive radiators attachable to a bottom support panel supported by said bottom frame;

d. a second plurality of passive radiators attachable to a front support panel supported by said front frame;

e. a control panel attachable to said front frame and said front support panel; and

f. an LED light panel attachable to said front frame.

10. A sound bar system comprising a sound bar further comprising:

a. a housing having:

i. a flat rectangular bottom frame;

ii. a front rectangular frame extending upward from an angled frame section extending from a front portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame; and

iii. an arcuate housing wall extending from a top portion of said front rectangular frame to a rear portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame;

b. a non-linear arrangement of loudspeakers within said housing;

c. a plurality of sets of three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots in said arcuate housing wall; and

d. at least one three-legged nut having:

i. three legs shaped conformally to said three mutually unique spaced-apart parallel slots;

ii. a top surface shaped conformally to a surface to be engaged; and

iii. a threaded bore through said top surface and through a central leg of said three legs.

11. The sound bar system of claim 10 , wherein said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots comprise:

a. a central slot having an expanded lower cross section with a narrower rectangular throat;

b. a first side slot spaced apart from a first side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot; and

c. a second side slot spaced apart from a second opposed side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot.

12. The sound bar system of claim 10 , comprising a clamp having:

a. a bottom portion having:

i. a bottom surface conformal to said top surface of said three-legged nut;

ii. a hole through said bottom portion of said clamp, through said bottom surface of said bottom portion of said clamp, and alignable to said threaded bore of said three-legged nut;

iii. a threaded fastener receivable in said hole and into said threaded bore;

iv. first and second fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said bottom portion of said clamp;

b. a top portion having third and fourth fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said top portion alignable to said first and second fastener openings, respectively;

c. wherein interior surfaces of said bottom and top portions of said clamp define a cross sectional shape of a support for receiving said clamp, when installed; and

d. wherein said clamp has 360 degrees of rotational freedom when being installed.

13. The sound bar system of claim 11 , comprising a single-legged slider coupling having:

a. an elongated slider leg having a cross sectional shape corresponding to said expanded lower cross section of a slot of said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots; and

b. a threaded stem extending transversely from said elongated slider leg.

14. The sound bar system of claim 10 , comprising

a. first and second end couplings adapted to be coupled to respective opposed ends of said arcuate housing wall; and

b. wherein each said end coupling of said first and second end couplings comprises:

i. a coupling base plate having:

1. a bore through said coupling base plate adapted to receive a bolt with an anti-rotational head shaped corresponding to said anti-rotational socket;

2. a slider stem:

a. extending transversely from said coupling base plate;

b. having a cross section corresponding to a slot of said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots;

c. having a plurality of threaded bores transverse to said slider stem; and

d. having an equal said plurality of threaded fasteners;

ii. a bracket having:

1. an adjustment slot for receiving a threaded stem of said bolt;

2. a receiving surface shaped conformally to a mounting surface to be engaged; and

3. a fastener opening through said receiving surface; and

iii. hardware for securing said bolt.

15. The sound bar system of claim 10 , comprising:

a. a first foraminous front grill attachable to said front frame;

b. a second foraminous grill attachable to said bottom frame;

c. a first plurality of passive radiators attachable to a bottom support panel supported by said bottom frame;

d. a second plurality of passive radiators attachable to a front support panel supported by said front frame;

e. a control panel attachable to said front frame and said front support panel; and

f. an LED light panel attachable to said front frame.

16. A sound bar system comprising a sound bar further comprising:

a. a housing having:

i. a flat rectangular bottom frame;

ii. a front rectangular frame extending upward from an angled frame section extending from a front portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame; and

iii. an arcuate housing wall extending from a top portion of said front rectangular frame to a rear portion of said flat rectangular bottom frame;

b. a non-linear arrangement of loudspeakers within said housing;

c. a plurality of sets of three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots in said arcuate housing wall;

d. wherein said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots comprise:

i. a central slot having an expanded lower cross section with a narrower rectangular throat;

ii. a first side slot spaced apart from a first side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot; and

iii. a second side slot spaced apart from a second opposed side of said central slot having a rectangular throat and an expanded lower cross section extending toward said central slot;

e. a first foraminous front grill attachable to said front frame;

f. a second foraminous grill attachable to said bottom frame;

g. a first plurality of passive radiators attachable to a bottom support panel supported by said bottom frame;

h. a second plurality of passive radiators attachable to a front support panel supported by said front frame;

i. a control panel attachable to said front frame and said front support panel; and

j. an LED light panel attachable to said front frame.

17. The sound bar system of claim 16 , comprising at least one of:

a. a clamp having:

i. a bottom portion having:

1. a bottom surface conformal to said top surface of said three-legged nut;

2. a hole through said bottom portion of said clamp, through said bottom surface of said bottom portion of said clamp, and alignable to said threaded bore of said three-legged nut;

3. a threaded fastener receivable in said hole and into said threaded bore;

4. first and second fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said bottom portion of said clamp;

ii. a top portion having third and fourth fastener openings at opposed first and second ends of said top portion alignable to said first and second fastener openings, respectively;

iii. wherein interior surfaces of said bottom and top portions of said clamp define a cross sectional shape of a mounting support for receiving said clamp, when installed; and

iv. wherein said clamp has 360 degrees of rotational freedom when being installed;

b. a single-legged slider coupling having:

i. an elongated slider leg having a cross sectional shape corresponding to said expanded lower cross section of a slot of said three unique parallel spaced-apart slots; and

ii. a threaded stem extending transversely from said elongated slider leg; and

c. first and second end couplings adapted to be coupled to respective opposed ends of said arcuate housing wall; and

i. wherein each said end coupling of said first and second end couplings comprises:

1. a coupling base plate having:

a. a bore through said coupling base plate adapted to receive a bolt with an anti-rotational head shaped corresponding to said anti-rotational socket;

b. a slider stem:

 i. extending transversely from said coupling base plate;

 ii. having a cross section corresponding to a slot of said three mutually unique parallel spaced-apart slots;

 iii. having a plurality of threaded bores transverse to said slider stem; and

 iv. having an equal said plurality of threaded fasteners; and

2. a bracket having:

a. an adjustment slot for receiving a threaded stem of said bolt;

b. a receiving surface shaped conformally to a mounting surface to be engaged; and

c. a fastener opening through said receiving surface; and

d. hardware for securing said bolt.

Continuity (1)
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