Speaker enclosure and mounting method for isolating and insulating faceplate and heavy speakers from surrounding mounting surface

Abstract

A speaker enclosure ( 10 ) comprising a speaker box ( 12 ) having an opening ( 27 ) and adapted for mounting within a wall ( 20 ) upon a wall stud ( 22 ); a compressible gasket ( 14 ) affixed about the box opening ( 27 ); a faceplate ( 16 ); and a plurality of independently adjustable coupling mechanisms ( 18 ) for coupling the faceplate ( 16 ) with the box ( 12 ). The protruding, uncompressed gasket ( 14 ) is compressed by the faceplate ( 16 ) and the coupling mechanisms ( 18 ), which may be independently adjusted to provide an optimum and substantially uniform degree of separation between faceplate ( 16 ) and wall ( 20 ), thereby reducing distortion, vibration, and damage due to undesirable contact therebetween. A spring ( 160 ) is provided to prevent over-compression of the gasket ( 14 ) due to heavy or low frequency speakers, thereby facilitating maintaining the uniform degree of separation; and a spacer ( 162 ) is provided to maintain the spring ( 160 ) in its operating position.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:  
     
         1 . A speaker enclosure comprising: 
 a speaker box presenting an opening and being mountable beneath a surface such that the opening is accessible through the surface;    a faceplate;    a compressible gasket interposed between the speaker box and the faceplate; and    a coupling mechanism adapted to adjustably couple the faceplate to the speaker box and cause the compressible gasket to compress, the coupling mechanism being further adapted to resist over-compression of the compressible gasket and thereby maintain a substantially uniform degree of separation between the faceplate and the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 1 , the compressible gasket having a tubular cross-section defining a collapsible air pocket.  
     
     
         3 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 1 , the degree of separation being between {fraction (1/64)} inch and {fraction (3/64)} inch.  
     
     
         4 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 1 , the surface being a wall and the speaker box being mountable to a stud within the wall.  
     
     
         5 . A speaker enclosure comprising: 
 a speaker box presenting an opening and being mountable beneath a surface such that the opening is accessible through the surface;    a faceplate;    a compressible gasket interposed between the speaker box and the faceplate; and    a coupling mechanism including a spring and adapted to adjustably couple the faceplate to the speaker box and cause the compressible gasket to compress, with the spring resisting over-compression of the compressible gasket and thereby maintaining a substantially uniform degree of separation between the faceplate and the surface.    
     
     
         6 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 5 , the compressible gasket having a tubular cross-section defining a collapsible air pocket.  
     
     
         7 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 5 , the degree of separation being between {fraction (1/64)} inch and {fraction (3/64)} inch.  
     
     
         8 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 5 , the surface being a wall and the speaker box being mountable to a stud within the wall.  
     
     
         9 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the spring has a spring constant of between 1 lb/in and 50 lbs/in.  
     
     
         10 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 5 , further including a spacer for maintaining the spring in an operating position.  
     
     
         11 . A speaker enclosure comprising: 
 a speaker box presenting an opening and being mountable beneath a surface such that the opening is accessible through the surface;    a faceplate;    a compressible gasket interposed between the speaker box and the faceplate such that the compressible gasket, when uncompressed, protrudes beyond the surface; and    a coupling mechanism including a threaded body and a spring and adapted to adjustably couple the faceplate to the speaker box over the opening and cause the compressible gasket to compress, with the spring resisting over-compression of the compressible gasket and thereby maintaining a substantially uniform degree of separation between the faceplate and the surface.    
     
     
         12 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 11 , the compressible gasket having a tubular cross-section defining a collapsible air pocket.  
     
     
         13 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 11 , the degree of separation being between {fraction (1/64)} inch and {fraction (3/64)} inch.  
     
     
         14 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 11 , the surface being a wall and the speaker box being mountable to a stud within the wall.  
     
     
         15 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the spring has a spring constant of between 1 lb/in and 50 lbs/in.  
     
     
         16 . The speaker enclosure as set forth in  claim 11 , further including a spacer for maintaining the spring in an operating position.