Loudspeaker construction

In a loudspeaker of the type comprising a frame, a magnet assembly secured to the frame, a diaphragm, and a surround secured to the diaphragm, the improvement comprising:

• a first annular clamping member included in the frame and positioned adjacent to an outer peripheral portion of the surround;
• an array of resilient locking fingers secured to the frame around and outside of the first clamping member, each locking finger defining a respective striking surface and a respective holding surface;
• a ring shaped second clamping member mechanically locked in place by the locking fingers in order to mechanically clamp the surround between the clamping members, said second clamping member shaped to contact the striking surfaces in order to push the locking fingers aside as the second clamping member is moved toward the first clamping member, and to engage the holding surfaces after the second clamping member has been moved into place against the surround, said locking fingers acting to mechanically lock the second clamping member, and therefore the surround, in place with respect to the frame;
• a projecting surface included in one of the clamping members;
• and
• a recessed surface included in the other of the clamping members and positioned to mate with the projecting surface to deform and clamp the surround therebetween.

In a loudspeaker of the type comprising a frame, a diaphragm mounted to the frame, a spider mounted to extend between the frame and the diaphragm to support a voice coil, and at least one additional speaker, the improvement comprising:

• a terminal strap which comprises first and second end sections and an intermediate section;
• first and second barbs included in the first and second end sections respectively;
• means, situated on the terminal strap, for establishing electrical contact with the voice coil;
• means, situated on the second end section, for establishing electrical contact with the additional speaker;
• means for defining first and second passages in the frame, each positioned to receive a respective one of the first and second end sections and each comprising a respective wall positioned to engage the respective barb;
• said terminal strap positioned with the first and second end sections in the first and second passages, respectively, such that the first and second barbs engage the respective transverse walls to hold the terminal strap securely in the frame and prevent audible resonance of the end sections during operation of the loudspeaker.

In a loudspeaker of the type comprising a frame, a diaphragm mounted to the frame, a spider having at least one conductor and is mounted to extend between the frame and the diaphragm, and at least one additional speaker, the improvement comprising:

• a terminal strap which comprises first and second end sections and an intermediate section;
• first and second barbs included in the first and second end sections respectively;
• a roughened surface of the first end section positioned to establish electrical contact with one of the spider conductors;
• a fork included in the second end section for establishing electrical contact with the additional speaker;
• said frame forming a pair of passages positioned to receive the first and second end sections, respectively, each of said passages situated adjacent a respective barb engaging wall;
• the first and second end sections of the terminal strap oriented parallel to one another, the end sections and the intermediate section each being substantially rectilinear, and said terminal strap configured such that each of the barbs engages a respective one of the barb engaging walls to securely hold the end sections in the frame;
• said terminal strap and frame shaped such that the intermediate section is spaced from the frame;
• a magnet assembly;
• a first set of threads formed on the frame;
• and
• a second set of threads coupled to the magnet assembly, said first and second sets of threads forming a threaded connection which holds the magnet assembly against the frame and which clamps the spider and the first end section between the frame and the magnet assembly, thereby further immobilizing the first end section.

In a loudspeaker of the type comprising a first speaker diaphragm and a second speaker, sized to fit within the first speaker diaphragm, the improvement comprising:

• a frame which supports the first speaker diaphragm;
• a grille which comprises a cantilevered tongue which extends over the first speaker diaphragm and supports the second speaker;
• and
• a grille mesh rigidly secured to the grille and the tongue to extend between the grille and the tongue, said grille mesh providing structural support to the cantilevered tongue to enable the tongue to properly support the second speaker.