Atlas Sound LP

Thomas J Johnson

Michael E Lamm

Joseph A Ferrante

A plenum mounted, flat metal panel diaphragm masking loudspeaker includes a flat, stamped sheet metal frame which has a deployed state and an undeployed, flat state well suited to storage or shipping. A large, movable tab at the bottom of the frame is weakened by a series of small apertures and forms a hinge or fold line. Electrical accessories including a transformer, a rotary switch for selecting transformer taps and signal connections are included in an enclosed box mounted on the foldable tab. The flat panel masking loudspeaker is shipped flat in the undeployed state and then the large tab is deployed by being folded outwardly before installing the flat panel masking loudspeaker in a ceiling plenum. During installation, the tab is folded along the hinge or fold line out to approximately 90.degree. with respect to the rest of the masking speaker frame, the entire assembly is then held overhead by the installer and is positioned above the suspended ceiling T-bar supports, within the plenum, whereupon the assembly is lowered or pushed downwardly and is held in place by one or more spring clips gripping the speaker frame and the ceiling T-bar supports. Alternatively, the frame may be suspended within the plenum by one or more small chains from the building trusses. Speaker diaphragm panel materials are preferably limited to those that are light in weight, stiff and substantially fire proof, such as aluminum. The flat panel diaphragm is driven by one or more exciters to produce a substantially omnidirectional polar radiation pattern, evenly distributing masking sound through the plenum area for radiation down into a workspace.

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Chesterfield, MO, United States of America

Thomas J Johnson