GB2185655A

GB2185655A - Loudspeaker arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2185655A
Application number: GB08700570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gastone Zanello
Original assignee: SELECO SpA
Current assignee: SELECO SpA
Priority date: 1986-01-10
Filing date: 1987-01-12
Publication date: 1987-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-12
Also published as: IT8634001V0; FR2593013A1; DE8700002U1; GB8700570D0; GB2185655B

Abstract

A loudspeaker arrangement comprises boxes t1, t2 pivoted to the sides of a television set T or other apparatus for supplying a signal to be reproduced. The boxes pivot in a substantially vertical plane between a retracted position in or adjacent the sides of the apparatus and an extended position so as to be further apart in order to increase the stereo image width. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Loudspeaker arrangement The present invention relates to arrangements of loudspeakers provided in order to reproduce sound in apparatuses having at least two loudspeakers located on opposite sides of the apparatus which supplies signals to be reproduced, such as stereophonic signal reproducing apparatuses.

Many arrangements are presently known for the acoustic units of stereophonic sound reproducing apparatuses. The most common are the following: 1 ) Loudspeakers mounted on the front of the cabinet; 2) Loudspeakers mounted on side of the cabinet, occasionally with acoustic reflectors; 3) Separate or detachable boxes located near the apparatus; and 4) Boxes hinged to the front or back of the cabinet and rotating in a horizontal plane.

Ali the above arrangements have disadvantages.

Arrangements 1), 2) and 4) are not satisfactory in respect of the stereophonic effect that the acoustic units create. In fact, in such arrangements the stereo effect is not so effective, particularly when the sound reproducing apparatus is part of a television set, because the two sound sources are too near one another so that the stereophonic effect or image width is not very noticeable.

Arrangement 3) is also not satisfactory because the user often leaves the boxes close to the apparatus, so that the "stereophonic width" is also very small owing to the limited size of the apparatus to which the boxes are close.

According to the invention, there is provided a loudspeaker arrangement for reproducing sound in an apparatus for supplying a signal to be reproduced and having at least two loudspeakers located on opposite sides of the apparatus, wherein each of the loudspeakers is contained in a box which is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane.

It is thus possible to provide an arrangement which gives an improved stereophonic effect.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective lateral view of a part of an arrangement of loudspeakers constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a lateral view of a part of the arrangement of loudspeakers shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front view of a sound reproducing apparatus including the arrangement of loudspeakers shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 shows a front view of parts of two further arrangements of loudspeakers constituting other preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a system comprising an arrangement of loudspeakers applied to a television set. The system comprises a television set T having a cabinet 1, two acoustic boxes tl and t2 (Figure 3) rotatable in a vertical plane and secured to the television set by means of a suitable bracket 3 (Figure 1) incorporating a pivot C, and a curved tube 4 (Figure 2) forming a friction device while sliding inside a sheath F (Figure 2) fixed to the cabinet 1 of the television set and allowing electric connecting wires E to pass through (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The tube 4 also fulfils the function of limiting the maximum possible tilting of the boxes.

As an alternative, for the same purpose, a connecting rod may instead be either hinged to the cabinet side and sliding on the box as shown at 10 or hinged to the box side and siiding vertically in the cabinet side as shown at 12: in both cases the rod fulfils the duty of limiting the maximum possible tilting of the boxes (Figure 4).

In Figure 1, one of the boxes tl is shown in its opened position in broken lines. In Figure 2, the box is shown in its opened position in solid lines and in its closed position in broken lines.

The above-described arrangements allow the distance A between the loudspeakers, in particular the high frequency speakers (tweeters) 8 which are advantageously located in the higher part of the boxes opposite to the pivots, to be increased. In this way, a better stereophonic effect is achieved because the high frequency speakers, which contribute more to create the stereo width, are located further from one other without increasing the "footprint" of the apparatus.

The invention may be applied not only to stereo television sets, but to any sound reproducing apparatus having at least two loudspeakers.

The box tilting gear may be manually operated or motor driven (for instance to allow remote control), with straight or curved rods (Figure 4! so as to tilt laterally the boxes but keep them tight to the apparatus.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to locate the loudspeakers inside boxes which are retractable so that, when verticaliy adjusted, they just disappear inside the cabinet. Tilting out may be automatically controlled when the set is turned on by means of suitable electric motors and control units.

1. A loudspeaker arrangement for reproducing sound in an apparatus for supplying a signal to be reproduced and having at least two loudspeakers located on opposite sides of the apparatus, wherein each of the loudspeakers is contained in a box which is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the boxes are acoustic boxes each containing at least one loudspeaker.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, in which the boxes are elongate and are arranged to pivot about a pivot at one end thereof, and in which each box contains a loudspeaker for reproducing high frequencies located at the end opposite the pivot.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, in which the acoustic boxes are hinged at their lower ends and means are provided for controlling the rotation of their upper ends.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for controlling rotation also serve to allow the passage of wires for supplying the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Loudspeaker arrangement The present invention relates to arrangements of loudspeakers provided in order to reproduce sound in apparatuses having at least two loudspeakers located on opposite sides of the apparatus which supplies signals to be reproduced, such as stereophonic signal reproducing apparatuses. Many arrangements are presently known for the acoustic units of stereophonic sound reproducing apparatuses. The most common are the following: 1 ) Loudspeakers mounted on the front of the cabinet; 2) Loudspeakers mounted on side of the cabinet, occasionally with acoustic reflectors; 3) Separate or detachable boxes located near the apparatus; and 4) Boxes hinged to the front or back of the cabinet and rotating in a horizontal plane. Ali the above arrangements have disadvantages. Arrangements 1), 2) and 4) are not satisfactory in respect of the stereophonic effect that the acoustic units create. In fact, in such arrangements the stereo effect is not so effective, particularly when the sound reproducing apparatus is part of a television set, because the two sound sources are too near one another so that the stereophonic effect or image width is not very noticeable. Arrangement 3) is also not satisfactory because the user often leaves the boxes close to the apparatus, so that the "stereophonic width" is also very small owing to the limited size of the apparatus to which the boxes are close. According to the invention, there is provided a loudspeaker arrangement for reproducing sound in an apparatus for supplying a signal to be reproduced and having at least two loudspeakers located on opposite sides of the apparatus, wherein each of the loudspeakers is contained in a box which is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane. It is thus possible to provide an arrangement which gives an improved stereophonic effect. The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective lateral view of a part of an arrangement of loudspeakers constituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a lateral view of a part of the arrangement of loudspeakers shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front view of a sound reproducing apparatus including the arrangement of loudspeakers shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 shows a front view of parts of two further arrangements of loudspeakers constituting other preferred embodiments of the present invention. In Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a system comprising an arrangement of loudspeakers applied to a television set. The system comprises a television set T having a cabinet 1, two acoustic boxes tl and t2 (Figure 3) rotatable in a vertical plane and secured to the television set by means of a suitable bracket 3 (Figure 1) incorporating a pivot C, and a curved tube 4 (Figure 2) forming a friction device while sliding inside a sheath F (Figure 2) fixed to the cabinet 1 of the television set and allowing electric connecting wires E to pass through (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The tube 4 also fulfils the function of limiting the maximum possible tilting of the boxes. As an alternative, for the same purpose, a connecting rod may instead be either hinged to the cabinet side and sliding on the box as shown at 10 or hinged to the box side and siiding vertically in the cabinet side as shown at 12: in both cases the rod fulfils the duty of limiting the maximum possible tilting of the boxes (Figure 4). In Figure 1, one of the boxes tl is shown in its opened position in broken lines. In Figure 2, the box is shown in its opened position in solid lines and in its closed position in broken lines. The above-described arrangements allow the distance A between the loudspeakers, in particular the high frequency speakers (tweeters) 8 which are advantageously located in the higher part of the boxes opposite to the pivots, to be increased. In this way, a better stereophonic effect is achieved because the high frequency speakers, which contribute more to create the stereo width, are located further from one other without increasing the "footprint" of the apparatus. The invention may be applied not only to stereo television sets, but to any sound reproducing apparatus having at least two loudspeakers. The box tilting gear may be manually operated or motor driven (for instance to allow remote control), with straight or curved rods (Figure 4! so as to tilt laterally the boxes but keep them tight to the apparatus. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to locate the loudspeakers inside boxes which are retractable so that, when verticaliy adjusted, they just disappear inside the cabinet. Tilting out may be automatically controlled when the set is turned on by means of suitable electric motors and control units. CLAIMS

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for controlling rotation also serve to allow the passage of wires for supplying the loudspeakers with the signals to be reproduced.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the boxes are arranged to pivot between a first location inside the sides of the apparatus supplying the signal to be reproduced and a second location at least partially outside the apparatus.

7. An arrangement asclaimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a motor arranged to pivot the boxes automatically when the apparatus is turned on.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including means for controlling pivoting of the boxes by means of a remote control unit.

9. A loudspeaker arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.