Method of straining a diaphragm and a device therefor

A method of straining a diaphragm to provide a desired tension therein, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first frame part and a second frame part, at least one of said frame parts having a projection defining the periphery of an interior area surrounded by the projection;
• providing an annular, resilient body having a configuration such that said annular, resilient body can lie around the exterior of the projection;
• placing the diaphragm adjacent one of the first and second frame parts so that the diaphragm is aligned with the area defined by the projection;
• placing the annular, resilient body intermediate one of the frame parts and the diaphragm so that the annular, resilient body can lie around the exterior of the projection when the first and second frame parts are contiguous;
• orienting the first frame part and the second frame part in an opposed relationship with the diaphragm therebetween and with said projection on said one of said frame parts extending toward the other of said frame parts;
• pressing the first and second frame parts together to bring the diaphragm into engagement with the annular resilient body to strain the diaphragm;
• retaining the diaphragm in the strained state on at least one of the first and second frame parts;
• and
• attaching a third frame part to the strained diaphragm positioned between the first and second frame parts to define an area of the strained diaphragm parts less than the area of diaphragm tensioned between the first and second frame parts.

A device having a diaphragm strained to a desired tension, said device comprising:

• a first frame part and a second frame part, said first and second frame parts being contiguous, at least one of said frame parts having a projection extending toward the other frame part and defining the periphery of an interior area surrounded by the projection, said projection having an exterior surface;
• an annular, resilient body intermediate said first and second frame parts, said resilient annular body being aligned with the exterior surface of the projection;
• and
• a diaphragm intermediate said first and second frame parts and spanning the interior area defined by the projection;
• said annular, resilient body being intermediate one of the frame parts and the diaphragm,
• said diaphragm being pressed into engagement with the annular, resilient body to strain the diaphragm to the desired tension and being maintained in said state by the contiguity of said first and second frame parts;
• said first and second frame parts being detachable with the diaphragm remaining in its tensioned state and the resilient body and the diaphragm being fastened to each other.

An apparatus for straining a diaphragm to a desired tension, said apparatus comprising:

• a first frame part and a second frame part, said first frame part and said second frame part being juxtapositionable in an opposing relationship and movable into contiguity, at least one of said frame parts having a projection extending toward the other frame part and defining the periphery of an interior area surrounded by the projection, said projection having an exterior surface;
• and
• an annular, resilient body having a configuration such that said annular, resilient body can be aligned with said exterior surface of the projection,
• the diaphragm to be strained being placed adjacent one of the first and second frame parts so that the diaphragm spans the interior area defined by the projection;
• the annular, resilient body of said apparatus being intermediate one of the frame parts and the diaphragm and so that the annular, resilient body is aligned with the exterior surface of said projection when the first and second frame parts are contiguous;
• said diaphragm being pressed into engagement with the annular, resilient body to strain the diaphragm to the desired tension when said first and second frame parts are rendered contiguous,
• said apparatus having a third frame part for application to the strained diaphragm positioned between contiguous first and second frame parts to define an area of the strained diaphragm parts less than the area of diaphragm tensioned between the first and second frame parts.