Loud speaker structure

A sound reproducing device comprising:

• a frame;
• an acoustic diaphragm;
• a compliant surround, the surround connected between the diaphragm and the frame for permitting the diaphragm to move longitudinally along an excursion axis with respect to the frame, the surround forming an elbow as the frame moves between a first position at a maximum positive excursion and a second position at a maximum negative excursion, whereby the elbow travels through the surround;
• and
• and rolling surface means for laterally supporting the surround, wherein the rolling surface means comprises an inner support surface attached to the diaphragm for movement therewith, the inner support surface adapted for supportingly engaging the surround such that the elbow of the surround rolls therealong as the diaphragm moves between the first position and the second position.

A loudspeaker assembly comprising:

• a substantially annular frame;
• a fustro-conical speaker diaphragm received concentrically within the frame;
• a substantially annular surround sealingly connecting the frame and the diaphragm, the surround being compliant to permit longitudinal movement of the diaphragm relative to the frame along an excursion axis between a maximum positive excursion limit and a maximum negative excursion limit;
• an outer support surface defined on the frame adjacent the surround over which a first lobe of the surround rolls as the diaphragm moves between the maximum positive excursion limit and the maximum negative excursion limit;
• and
• an inner support surface attached to the diaphragm for movement therewith, the inner support surface adjacent the surround and defining a substantially continuous surface over which the first lobe of the surround will roll as the diaphragm moves between the maximum positive excursion limit and the maximum negative excursion limit.

A negative spring assembly for a loudspeaker, the loudspeaker comprising a frame and a speaker diaphragm, the negative spring assembly comprising:

• an outer support surface formed on the frame;
• an inner support surface attached to the speaker diaphragm for movement therewith along an axis of excursion of the diaphragm between a maximum positive excursion limit and a maximum negative excursion limit, the inner support surface spaced from and substantially opposed to the outer support surface, the space between the inner support surface and the outer support surface varying along the axis of excursion of the diaphragm;
• and
• a compliant surround received between the outer support surface and the inner support surface, the surround defining an upper lobe and a lower lobe, the surround adapted to deformingly roll along the outer support surface and the inner support surface.

A negative spring assembly for a loudspeaker comprising:

• a frame having an outer support surface, the outer support surface defining a first ridge:
• a speaker diaphragm;
• an inner support surface attached to the speaker diaphragm for movement therewith, the inner support surface defining a second ridge spaced from and substantially opposed to the outer support surface:
• and
• a solid toroid surround received between the outer support surface and the inner support surface, the surround having a first attachment area mounted to the outer support surface, a second attachment area mounted to the inner support surface, the surround being compliant for permitting translational movement of the inner support surface with respect to the outer support surface, such that the outer support surface deformably contacts a first work area of the surround and the inner support surface deformably contacts a second work area of the surround for negatively balancing the speaker diaphragm from its translated position when the inner support surface moves in a first direction and the outer support surface deformably contacts a third work area of the surround and the inner support surface deformably contacts a fourth work area of the surround for negatively balancing the speaker diaphragm from its translated position when the inner support surface moves in a second direction.

A loudspeaker assembly comprising:

• a annular frame;
• a diaphragm received concentrically within the frame;
• a substantially annular resilient surround having an interior, the surround sealingly connecting the frame and the diaphragm, the surround being compliant to permit longitudinal movement of the diaphragm relative to the frame between a maximum positive excursion and a maximum negative excursion;
• an outer support surface defined on the frame, the outer support surface adjacent the surround for supportingly engaging the surround such that the surround rolls along the outer support surface as the diaphragm moves between the maximum positive excursion and the maximum negative excursion:
• an inner support surface, the inner support surface attached to the diaphragm for movement therewith, the inner support surface adjacent the surround for supportingly engaging the surround such that the surround rolls along the inner support surface as the diaphragm moves between the maximum positive excursion and the maximum negative excursion;
• and
• means for controlling the pressure in the surround.

A loudspeaker assembly comprising:

• an enclosure having a first chamber and a second chamber defined therein;
• a first speaker, the first speaker acoustically coupling the first chamber and the second chamber;
• a second speaker, the second speaker acoustically coupling the second chamber and the exterior of the enclosure;
• and
• means for negatively balancing the first speaker comprises a mechanical spring, wherein the mechanical spring comprises a first support surface, a second support surface spaced from the first support surface, the second support surface and the first support surface defining a necked region therebetween, and a resilient surround received therebetween, the surround having a meniscus formed therein, for deformingly rolling along the first and the second support surfaces.