GB2295077A

GB2295077A - Supporting sound generating equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2295077A
Application number: GB9417417A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Martin Dean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-30
Filing date: 1994-08-30
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-30
Also published as: GB9417417D0; GB2295077B

Abstract

In Fig. 2 a housing 4 means 2 for carrying the equipment and carrier support means 3. The carrier means is a shelf or shelves which may be made from a material which is energy absorbing. To prevent structure-borne acoustic energy transmission to the carrier shelf it does not contact the side 7 of the housing, there being a gap 8, the shelf being mounted on supports 3. Preferably, the carrier shelf may be fixed to the support means loosely and the housing panels may be formed loosely, for dissipation of structure-borne acoustic energy, but sufficiently tightly to maintain structural integrity. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SOUND GENERATING EOUIPMENT The invention relates to apparatus for supporting sound generating equipment, and to a kit of parts for constructing such apparatus.

Sound generating equipment such as hifi, video, television, and personal address equipment is often placed on supports or in housings which perform the dual function of providing an aesthetically pleasing setting whilst protecting the equipment from dust and damage. A problem experienced with known supports and housings is that of microphonic distortion caused by structure-borne acoustic energy transmission to the equipment.

It is an object of the invention to mitigate problems such as this.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for supporting sound generating equipment comprising carrier means for bearing the equipment and support means whereby the carrier means is supported, the carrier means and/or support means being adapted substantially to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission to the equipment.

The apparatus may include a housing for the equipment.

The carrier means may comprise a relatively low mass, substantially rigid energy absorbing material.

Additionally or alternatively the housing or part of the housing may comprise a relatively low mass, substantially rigid energy absorbing material.

In each case, the relatively low mass substantially rigid energy absorbing material may comprise a laminate having a honeycomb layer.

The apparatus may comprise acoustic energy absorbing material disposed between the panels of the housing.

The support means may comprise a body and a support part, and it is preferred that the surface area of the support part is smaller than the surface area of the body.

The carrier means and support means may be disposed within the housing, and the support means may be fixed to the housing.

Preferably, the carrier means may be fixed to the support means loosely, for dissipation of structure-borne acoustic energy, but sufficiently tightly to maintain structural integrity.

The housing panels may be formed loosely but tightly enough for structural integrity.

The carrier means may rest removably on the support means, and it is preferred that the carrier means is disposed within the housing substantially to avoid direct contact therewith.

The support means may be adjustable to vary the height (in use) of the apparatus.

The apparatus may include a plurality of carrier means.

It is preferred that the apparatus includes storage means, and the storage means may comprise a drawer.

According to a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for constructing an apparatus for supporting sound generating equipment, which may comprise carrier means for bearing the equipment and support means whereby the carrier means is supported, the carrier means and/or support means being adapted substantially to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission.

The invention will further be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention stacked on another similar embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of a further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side three quarter view of a support means for use in apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 5 is an underplan view of apparatus embodying the invention showing the support means of Fig. 4 in use; and Fig. 6 is a rear fragmentary view of apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus 1 for supporting sound equipment comprising carrier means 2 for bearing the equipment and support means 3 whereby the carrier means 2 is supported, the carrier means 2 and/or support means 3 being adapted substantially to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission to the equipment.

In the illustrated embodiment the apparatus 1 takes the form of a housing or cabinet 4, but it is also envisaged that it could take the form of a shelf or stand or other such support.

The carrier means 2 is a shelf or shelves mounted within the housing 4 by means of the support means 3. Each shelf may be made from a material which is of relatively low mass, but rigid enough to support the weight of an item of equipment such as a hifi, whilst being energy absorbing. Examples of materials which may be used are MDF which may be veneered. A particularly effective material is a laminate of an internal honeycomb layer between two sheets of material, such as a cardboard honeycomb between two hard wood sheets.

In order to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission to the equipment housed in the apparatus 1, each shelf 2 is mounted in the housing 4 by the support means 3 as illustrated in Fig. 3. From this it can be seen that the support means 3 has a body 5 and a support part 6. In this embodiment the support part 6 extends upwardly (in use) from the body 5 into a correspondingly shaped aperture formed in the under-surface (in use) of the shelf 2. It will be noted that the shelf 2 does not contact the side 7 of the housing, there being provided a gap 8. In an alternative embodiment, support means 3 is provided in the form of a cylindrical peg having a body 5 and a support part 6 which comprises a flared end of the cylinder. The body 5 is inserted into a suitable aperture in a side of the housing 4 with the support part projecting outwards.A plurality, (in the embodiment four) of those support means are employed as shown in Fig. 5. A shelf is placed upon the supports so that the underside (in use) contacts the edge of the flared end, thereby resulting in a small surface area of contact.

The housing 4 may additionally be provided with a removable back panel 9 to allow wiring from the equipment to be easily accessible. As shown in Fig.

6. the back panel 9 is mounted so as to leave a gap on each side, between the back 9 and the sides of the housing 4, to prevent acoustic energy transmission from one to another.

The base 10 of the housing 4 may be provided with feet 11 which can be for example knock-in threaded studs into which adjustable height feet or spikes can be attached. In the illustrated embodiment the feet 11 are in the form of inverted spikes, with the pointed end making contact with the floor or surface on which it is mounted.

The apparatus may be provided with doors which may be of glass and/or MDF for a pleasing appearance and to protect the housed equipment. There may also be provided storage means 12 in the form of drawers or racks for storage of ancillary equipment, recording media and the like. The storage means is adapted to be adjustable to the size, number and/or shape of articles to be stored, with for example, movable position dividers. The positions of the or each carrier 2, and storage means 12 is variable within the housing 4 to cater for the size of equipment to be housed and the users choice, for example by providing a number of pre-drilled mounting holes in the sides of the housing 4 at different heights.

The apparatus 1 may be combined with other similar apparatus 1 by stacking, to build up a system of varying size. The apparatus is thereby modular. In addition, the storage means 4 is also modular in that further storage components of different types may be added to the apparatus 1 as and when the facility is required.

It can thus be seen that the apparatus 1 not only protects and stores sound generating equipment, but improves sound quality of the equipment by preventing structure borne acoustic energy transmission.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting sound generating equipment comprising carrier means for bearing the equipment and support means whereby the carrier means is supported, the carrier means and/or support means being adapted substantially to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission to the equipment.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, including a housing for the equipment.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the carrier means comprises a relatively low mass, substantially rigid energy absorbing material.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the housing or part of the housing comprises one or more panels of a relatively low mass, substantially rigid energy absorbing material.

Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the panels are joined loosely for dissipation of structure borne acoustic energy, but sufficiently tightly to maintain structural integrity.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 3 and Claim 4, wherein the relatively low mass substantially rigid energy absorbing material comprises a laminate having a honeycomb layer.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 4 to 6, comprising acoustic energy absorbing material disposed between the panels of the housing.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a body and a support part.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the surface area of the support part is smaller than the surface area of the body.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the carrier means and support means are disposed within the housing.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the support means is fixed to the housing.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the support means is fixed to the housing loosely, for dissipation of structure borne acoustic energy, but sufficiently tightly to maintain structural integrity.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrier means is fixed to the support means loosely for dissipation of structure borne acoustic energy, but sufficiently tightly to maintain structural integrity.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the carrier means nests removably on the support means.

15. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 14, wherein the carrier means is disposed within the housing substantially to avoid direct contact therewith.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means is adjustable to vary the height (in use) of the carrier means.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a plurality of carrier means.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including storage means.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the storage means comprises a drawer.

28. A kit of parts for constructing an apparatus for supporting sound generating equipment, comprising carrier means for bearing the equipment and support means whereby the carrier means is supported, the carrier means and/or support means being adapted substantially to prevent structure borne acoustic energy transmission.

21. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.