# US 7,073,624 B2 · Loudspeaker baffle isolation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,073,624 B2 - Document ID: US7073624B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/632,452 - Filed: 2003-07-31 - Published: 2004-05-06 - Granted: 2006-07-11 - Earliest claimed: 2002-07-31 - Assignees: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Inventors: William Andrew Decanio; Paul Nelson Adley; Robert Garrison Tice - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7073624B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/2873: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract This invention provides a baffle isolation system for isolating a baffle from a housing in a loudspeaker mounting system. The isolation system may include an isolation mechanism that insulates the baffle from the speaker housing. The isolation mechanism may include a bumper member coupled to a hollow shaft. In another embodiment, the bumper member may also include at least two resistant members located on either side of the bumper and coupled to the hollow shaft. These resistant members act to acoustically reduce sound penetration through the isolation system. Radial isolation may be achieved by the bumper acting to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the baffle to the housing, while longitudinal isolation may be achieved by the resistant members. Ideally, the bumper and the resistant members may be manufactured out of an elastomeric material and may be designed as separate members or as one unitary member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loudspeaker baffle isolation assembly comprising: a loudspeaker baffle including a baffle portion defining a baffle opening, the baffle portion including a first surface and a second surface; a bumper positioned in the baffle opening and contacting the baffle portion, the bumper including a first side and a second side; a first resistant member generally disposed on the first side of the bumper and contacting the first surface of the baffle, the first resistant member having a first bore, where at least a portion of the bumper on the first side extends into the first bore and is coaxial with the first bore relative to a longitudinal axis, and the bumper is separate from and spaced from the first resistant member; and a second resistant member generally disposed on the second side of the bumper and contacting the second surface of the baffle, the second resistant member having a second bore, where at least a portion of the bumper on the second side extends into the second bore and is coaxial with the second bore relative to the longitudinal axis, and the bumper is separate from and spaced from the second resistant member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further including a loudspeaker housing, where the first resistant member is interposed between the first surface of the baffle and the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, further including a loudspeaker disposed in the loudspeaker housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the bumper has a bumper opening formed through the bumper from the first side to the second side, the first resistant member has a first resistant member opening, the second resistant member has a second resistant member opening, and the assembly further includes a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the first resistant member opening, through the bumper opening and into the second resistant member opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, further including a loudspeaker housing having a housing opening, where the first resistant member is interposed between the first surface of the baffle and the housing opening, and where the bumper opening, the first resistant member opening, the second resistant member opening, and the housing opening are aligned with each other relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, where the shaft is hollow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, where the shaft has an outer diameter, the bumper opening has an inner diameter, and the outer diameter is less than the inner diameter such that the shaft is slidable within the bumper opening along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, further including a sleeve interposed in the bumper opening between the bumper and the shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, where the shaft has an outer diameter, the sleeve has an inner diameter, and the outer diameter is less than the inner diameter such that the shall is slidable within the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, further including a first cap extending from a first end of the shaft at a side of the first resistant member generally facing away from the first side of the bumper, and a second cap extending from an opposing second end of the shaft at a side of the second resistant member generally facing away from the second side of the bumper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, further including a housing, where the first cap contacts the housing, and the first resistant member and the second resistant member are positioned in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, further including a housing, where the second cap contacts the housing, and the first resistant member and the second resistant member are positioned in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, further including a washer interposed between the first resistant member and the first cap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, further including a washer interposed between the second resistant member and the second cap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, where at least one of the first cap and the second cap is integrated with the shaft as a single-piece construction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, where at least one of the first cap and the second cap is a separate component relative to the shaft and is coupled to the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the bumper has a groove circumferentially formed around the bumper relative to the longitudinal axis, and the baffle portion extends into the groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the first resistant member is constructed from a first elastomeric material, the second resistant member is constructed from a second elastomeric material, the bumper is constructed from a third elastomeric material, and at least one of the first, second and third elastomeric materials has a durometer measurement different from the durometer measurements of the other elastomeric materials. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the first resistant member is constructed from a first elastomeric material, the second resistant member is constructed from a second elastomeric material, the bumper is constructed from a third elastomeric material, and at least one of the first, second and third elastomeric materials has a durometer measurement ranging from about 20 to about 100. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further including a housing having a housing opening and a mounting mechanism, where the bumper has a bumper opening extending through the bumper from the first side to the second side, the first resistant member has a first resistant member opening, the second resistant member has a second resistant member opening, the mounting mechanism extends along the longitudinal axis from the housing opening and through the first resistant member opening, the bumper opening, and the second resistant member opening, and each of the bumper, the first resistant member and the second resistant member is disposed in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The assembly of claim 20, further including a cap contacting the first resistant member and the housing and interposed between the first resistant member and the housing, where the cap has a cap opening and the mounting mechanism extends through the cap opening. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the first resistant member includes a first sidewall defining the first bore, the second resistant member includes a second sidewall defining the second bore, and at least one of the first and second sidewalls has a thickness that varies along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, where the first resistant member includes a first sidewall defining the first bore and terminating at a first lip, the first lip contacts the first surface of the baffle, the second resistant member includes a second sidewall defining the second bore and terminating at a second lip, the second lip contacts the second surface of the baffle, and at least one of the first and second sidewalls has a thickness that increases generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis from the corresponding lip away from the bumper. ### Claim 24 A loudspeaker baffle isolation assembly comprising: a bumper including a first side, a second side, and an opening formed through the bumper from the first side to the second side; a first resistant member generally disposed on the first side of the bumper and having a first bore, where at least a portion of the bumper on the first side extends into the first bore and is coaxial with the first bore relative to a longitudinal axis, and the bumper is separate from and spaced from the first resistant member; a second resistant member generally disposed on the second side of the bumper and having a second bore, where at least a portion of the bumper on the second side extends into the second bore and is coaxial with the second bore relative to the longitudinal axis, and the bumper is separate from and spaced from the second resistant member; and a shaft extending through the bumper opening and into the first bore and the second bore. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The assembly of claim 24, further including a loudspeaker baffle, the baffle including a first surface, a second surface, and a baffle portion defining a baffle opening, where the bumper is positioned in the baffle opening and contacts the baffle portion, the first resistant member contacts the first surface, and the second resistant member contacts the second surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The assembly of claim 24, further including a first cap extending from a first end of the shaft at a side of the first resistant member generally facing away from the first side of the bumper, and a second cap extending from an opposing second end of the shaft at a side of the second resistant member generally facing away from the second side of the bumper. ### Claim 27 A loudspeaker baffle isolation assembly comprising: a loudspeaker baffle including a baffle portion defining a baffle opening; and a bumper portion positioned in the baffle opening and contacting the baffle portion, the bumper portion including a first side, a second side, and a bumper opening formed through the bumper along a longitudinal axis from the first side to the second side; a first resistant portion extending from the first side and contacting a first surface of the baffle, the first resistant portion including a first lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a first sidewall defining a first cavity between the bumper opening and the first lip, the first cavity communicating with the bumper opening; and a second resistant portion extending from the second side and contacting a second surface of the baffle, the second resistant portion including a second lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a second sidewall defining a second cavity between the bumper opening and the second lip, the second cavity communicating with the bumper opening. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, further including a loudspeaker housing, where the first resistant portion is interposed between the first surface of the baffle and the housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The assembly of claim 28, further including a loudspeaker disposed in the loudspeaker housing. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, where the bumper portion, the first resistant portion, and the second resistant portion are integrated as a unitary isolation member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The assembly of claim 30, where the unitary isolation member is constructed from an elastomeric material having a durometer measurement ranging from about 20 to about 100. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, further including a shaft extending along the longitudinal axis from the first cavity, through the bumper opening and into the second cavity. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The assembly of claim 32, further including a loudspeaker housing having a housing opening, where the first resistant portion is interposed between the first surface of the baffle and the housing opening, and where the bumper opening and the housing opening are aligned with each other relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The assembly of claim 33, where the shaft is hollow. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The assembly of claim 32, where the shaft has an outer diameter, the bumper opening has an inner diameter, and the outer diameter is less than the inner diameter such that the shaft is slidable within the bumper opening along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The assembly of claim 32, further including a first cap extending from a first end of the shaft at a side of the first resistant portion generally facing away from the first side of the bumper portion, and a second cap extending from an opposing second end of the shaft at a side of the second resistant portion generally facing away from the second side of the bumper portion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The assembly of claim 36, further including a housing, where the first cap contacts the housing, and the first resistant portion and the second resistant portion are positioned in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The assembly of claim 36, further including a housing, where the second cap contacts the housing, and the first resistant portion and the second resistant portion are positioned in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The assembly of claim 36, where at least one of the first cap and the second cap is integrated with the shaft as a single-piece construction. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The assembly of claim 36, where at least one of the first cap and the second cap is a separate component relative to the shaft and is coupled to the shaft. ### Claim 41 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, further including a housing having a housing opening and a mounting mechanism, where the mounting mechanism extends along the longitudinal axis from the housing opening and through the first cavity, the bumper opening, and the second cavity, and each of the bumper, the first resistant portion and the second resistant portion is disposed in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The assembly of claim 41, further including a cap contacting the first resistant portion and the housing and interposed between the first resistant portion and the housing, where the cap has a cap opening and the mounting mechanism extends through the cap opening. ### Claim 43 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls has a thickness that varies along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 44 (depends on 27) The assembly of claim 27, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls has a thickness that increases generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis from the corresponding lip toward the bumper portion. ### Claim 45 A loudspeaker baffle isolation assembly comprising: a bumper portion including a first side, a second side, and a bumper opening formed through the bumper along a longitudinal axis from the first side to the second side; a first resistant portion extending from the first side, the first resistant portion including a first lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a first sidewall defining a first cavity between the bumper opening and the first lip, the first cavity communicating with the bumper opening; a second resistant member extending from the second side, the second resistant portion including a second lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a second sidewall defining a second cavity between the bumper opening and the second lip, the second cavity communicating with the bumper opening; and a shaft extending through the bumper opening and into the first cavity and the second cavity. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The assembly of claim 45, further including a loudspeaker baffle, the baffle including a first surface, a second surface, and a baffle portion defining a baffle opening, where the bumper is positioned in the baffle opening and contacts the baffle portion, the first resistant member contacts the first surface, and the second resistant member contacts the second surface. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The assembly of claim 45, further including a first cap extending from a first end of the shaft at a side of the first resistant portion generally facing away from the first side of the bumper portion, and a second cap extending from an opposing second end of the shaft at a side of the second resistant portion generally facing away from the second side of the bumper portion. ### Claim 48 A loudspeaker mounting system comprising: a housing; a loudspeaker disposed in the housing; a baffle including a baffle portion defining a baffle opening, the baffle disposed in non-contacting relation to the housing; and a baffle isolation assembly including: a bumper positioned in the baffle opening and contacting the baffle portion; a first resistant member generally disposed on a first side of the bumper and contacting a first surface of the baffle; and a second resistant member generally disposed on a second side of the bumper and contacting a surface of the baffle. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the first resistant member has a first bore, at least a portion of the bumper on the first side extends into the first bore and is coaxial with the first bore relative to a longitudinal axis, the second resistant member has a second bore, at least a portion of the bumper on the second side extends into the second bore and is coaxial with the second bore relative to the longitudinal axis, and the bumper is separate from and spaced from the first resistant member and the second resistant member. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the bumper has a bumper opening extending through the bumper from the first side to the second side, the first resistant member has a first resistant member opening, the second resistant member has a second resistant member opening, and the assembly further includes a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis from the first resistant member opening, through the bumper opening and into the second resistant member opening. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The system of claim 50, further including a cap coupled to the shaft at a side of the first resistant member generally facing away from the first side of the bumper, where the cap contacts the housing and the first resistant member and the second resistant member are positioned in non-contacting relation to the housing. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the first resistant member is interposed between the first surface of the baffle and the housing. ### Claim 53 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the first resistant member is constructed from a first elastomeric material, the second resistant member is constructed from a second elastomeric material, the bumper is constructed from a third elastomeric material, and at least one of the first, second and third elastomeric materials has a durometer measurement different from the durometer measurements of the other elastomeric materials. ### Claim 54 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the first resistant member includes a first sidewall defining the first bore, the second resistant member includes a second sidewall defining the second bore, and at least one of the first and second sidewalls has a thickness that varies along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 55 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the bumper has a bumper opening extending along a longitudinal axis from the first side to the second side, the first resistant member includes a first lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a first sidewall defining a first cavity between the bumper opening and the first lip, the second resistant member includes a second lip disposed at a distance from the bumper opening and a second sidewall defining a second cavity between the bumper opening and the second lip, and the first cavity and the second cavity communicate with the bumper opening. ### Claim 56 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the bumper, the first resistant member, and the second resistant member are integrally provided as a unitary isolation member. ### Claim 57 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, where the baffle isolation assembly is one of a plurality of baffle isolation assemblies, each assembly including a respective bumper, a first resistant member and a second resistant member, and where the damping characteristic of at least one of the assemblies is different from the respective damping characteristics of the other assemblies. ### Claim 58 A method for isolating a baffle from a housing in which a loudspeaker is disposed, comprising: isolating the baffle from the housing against loads in a radial direction by mounting a bumper in a baffle opening of the baffle, where the bumper contacts the baffle and is restricted from moving freely in the radial direction and the bumper does not contact the housing; and isolating the baffle from the housing against loads in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the radial direction by interposing a first resistant member between a first side of the baffle and the housing where the first resistant member contacts the baffle, providing a second resistant member in contact with an opposing second side of the baffle, and mounting the first resistant member and the second resistant member relative to the baffle such that the first resistant member and the second resistant member are restricted from moving freely in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The method of claim 58, where at least one of the first and second resistant members includes a sidewall defining a bore, and the method further comprises varying the thickness of the sidewall. ### Claim 60 (depends on 58) The method of claim 58, further comprising selecting durometer measurements for the bumper, the first resistant member, and the second resistant member based on the loads applied to the bumper, the first resistant member, and the second resistant member.