US3350514A

US3350514A - Radially broadcasting speaker system

Info

Publication number: US3350514A
Application number: US376667A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Cooke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-22
Filing date: 1964-06-22
Publication date: 1967-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-31

Description

1967 w. A. cooKE 335G514 RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKER SYSTEM Filed June 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l HIII? V Tillmlm 56 52 HI I i 3 SJ WILLIAM A. GOOKE ATTORNEY FIG. I

INVENTOR Oct. 31; 1967 w. A. COOKE RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22; 1964 ATTORNEY m m m mun/w A. GOOKE B Gil/ U United States Patent 3,350,514 RADIALLY BROADCASTING SPEAKER SYSTEM William A. Cooke, Baltimore, Md., assignor of fifty percent to Walter G. Finch, Baltimore, Md. Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,667 Claims. (Cl. 179-1155) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A speaker system is formed from a pair of speakers secured together with the apices of their cones pointing towards one another, with voice coils means positioned within each cone and directing the sound broadcast by each cone toward the other cone, whereby the resultant sound is broadcast radially from the speaker system.

This invention relates generally to electrodynamic loudspeakers, and more particularly it pertains to an arrangement for combining the two channel speakers of a stereo system for single source sound emission.

In the past, high fidelity speakers for stereo have had the disadvantage of being directional. In order to hear stereophonic sound, two separate loud speakers were required, one placed on the right and one on the left of the auditor and more or less spaced fifteen or twenty feet apart. There would then be a position in front of this array where the sound would combine to give reality or presence.

Two speakers with their associated housings are expensive. Further, there is the problem of locating the speakers as well as the auditors so as to obtain the stereo effect properly.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an omni-directional dual channel loudspeaker arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stereo sound reproducing speaker which is more compact than any heretofore.

To provide a stereo loudspeaker which emits the dual channels of stereo sound from a single point, is yet another object of this invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a dual element loudspeaker of the dynamic type which is simple in construction, highly efficient in use, and which can be produced at a minimum of cost.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a loudspeaker having twin speakers shown partly in vertical section as taken on line 11 of FIG. 2 and incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the loudspeaker of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, the loudspeaker of this invention consists of a twin speaker arrangement indicated generally by reference numeral and comprises essentially two special identical spaced speakers 12, back-to-back and secured together.

ICC

Each speaker 12 consists of a circular frame or plate 14. This plate 14 has a circular shallow depression or boss 16 at its center and a shallow cylindrical wall 18 near its outer edge. The outer edge of the plate 14 extends radially at three equally spaced points to form lugs 20. A peripheral flange is formed all around the plate 14 and continues around the lugs 20 to stiffen the structure.

The intermediate web portion of the plate 14 is provided with lightening holes 26 and the remaining web portion is stiffened with embossed radial stiffener ribs 24 therebetween.

A cylindrical magnet assembly 28 is secured by bolts 30 to the boss 16 at the center of the plate 14. A pole piece 32 of the magnet assembly 28 extends through a hole in a steel plate 34 with a clearance or air gap theregztween. The outer edge of plate 34 has a peripheral flange A cylinder 38 of phenolic or other non-magnetic insulatmg material is provided with a winding or voice coil 40 at one end. Intermediate the ends, the cylinder 38 extends through and is mounted on a diaphragm 42 which, 1n turn, is supported on the flange 36 so as to introduce the coil 40 into the previously mentioned air gap of the plate 34 with freedom of axial movement. The other end of the cylinder 38 is cemented within the apex of a paper cone 44. The apex itself is further provided with an aperture 46. The periphery of the cone 44 is flattened and clamped under a ring 48 to the outer edge of the plate 14 by means of fasteners 50 at spaced intervals.

The speakers 12 are spaced rigidly apart, cone apex toward apex, by threaded rods 52 passed through the lugs 20 as shown using a bushing 54 and nuts 56.

The upper and lower cone Will then form a V from which after each coil is energized with its separate stereo channel, sound will pulsate in a coordinated or synchronized manner in phase giving a stereophonic effect in all directions with no point of out-of-phase condition or cancelling.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A speaker system comprising a pair of speakers, each of \said speakers having a cone, with said speakers being secured together in such a manner that the apices of each said cone are pointed towards one another, each said speakers having voice coil means positioned within their respective cone, with each said voice coil means directing the sound broadcast by their respective speaker toward the other speaker of said pair, whereby the resultant sound is broadcast radially from said pair of speakers.

2. The speaker system of claim 1 wherein each said cone has an aperture at its apex.

3. The speaker system of claim 2 wherein each said cone has a plate having an aperture positioned therein, a magnet pole piece extending into the aperture in each said plate, cylinder means having one end encompassing one end of each said magnet pole piece and the other end of each secured to their respective cone and encompassing the aperture therein, and said voice coil means extends between the aperture said plate and said cylinder means References Cited in each said cone. N D T T N I 4. The speaker system of claim 3 wherein each said U ITE STA ES PA E Ts speaker is electrically connected to separate stereo chan- 2109 1,011 8/1937 Phelps 179*115'5 nels of a Stereo broadcast. 5 2,755,343 7/ 1956 L vy 5. The speaker system of claim 1 in combination with 2,768,702 10/1956 Lowry 179116 a pair of stereo channel means forming a stereo system, $076,520 2/1963 Falwell 179-181 with one of said stereo channel means energizing one of said speakers and the other of said stereo channel means KATHLEEN CLAFFY Pnmary Exammer energizing the other of saidspeakers. 10 A. MCGILL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SPEAKER SYSTEM COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPEAKERS, EACH OF SAID SPEAKERS HAVING A CONE, WITH SAID SPEAKERS BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE APICES OF EACH SAID CONE ARE POINTED TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER, EACH SAID SPEAKERS HAVING VOICE COIL MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONE, WITH EACH SAID VOICE COIL MEANS DIRECTING THE SOUND BROADCAST BY THEIR RESPECTIVE SPEAKER TOWARD THE OTHER SPEAKER OF SAID PAIR, WHEREBY THE RESULTANT SOUND IS BROADCAST RADIALLY FROM SAID PAIR OF SPEAKERS.