US2520172A - -sound intensifier - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29,1950 5. a. RUBINSTEIN I scum) INTENSIFIER Filed Nov. so, 1945 22 w Q 5 I I5 I. 1 Z5 A L o 3 29 23 p {5 36a 50 6 l2 Patented Aug. 2 9, 1956 UNI T ED TATES FF SOUND'INTEN-SIFIER V Sa 1 nue l;B.gbigstein, New York, N.

v ApplicationNovember 30, 1945,.Serial No. 631,856

7 V 1 This invention relates to sound apparatus,:-such as mechan-ical sound amplifiers adaptedto increase'the intensityer depth ofsonndtoimprove the I musical quality thereof.

Oneobject efthe inventionis the provision of improved apparatus for building up thei-ntensity and depth of sound --along preferably closed, vibratory resonating chamber-s which are 7 gradna-ted in-volume or area. -"ihe invention is addressed tothe reproduction of sound for improving thequality thereofand to the enhancement in the quality of sound'wh-ieh is goodor almost perfect -as-produced;-andit may also be regarded as pertaining to the art of changing or modifying sound-with a view to increasing the depth orintensity thereof. Thereforawvithin the purviewof the invention, the sameimayinclnde any good source of sounder musicsuch as'a radio-loudspeaker, apian -violin or other string or reed instrument; andthe invention may embody a unit located-wholly'or only partly at or about the source-of sound'and partly at points extended or-relatively remotethere from since-the system =is-capableof being greatly expanded over a substantial distance. k t

Another object of the' invention isto'iurn-ish an apparatus ofthezclass alluded to-havihg proved means comprising sound cha n-hers arranged in a series to conserve the energy of the sonnd source and to form an eff cient-transmitting series outward fronithe sour ce of sound.

lleretofore the practice has been "to provide only one sound chamber or board adjacent to a source of sound as exemplified by a violin, piano and other musical instruments. I discovered that substantial improvement was possible by employing a plurality of sound chambers, pr ovidingthat the are disposed in a certainnovel relationship to each other as hereinafter desc ib d B m i v n such dde .ds t q ntensi y f spen w s ainabl t t invention opens up a new field of soundtreatment of persons suffering from mental and other ailments directly or indirectly cause by emotional disturbances.

..Other objects and .andvantages of the inven- ,.tion will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With theaforesaid objects in view, the invention comprises thenovelfeatures, combinations .ifihi ns. (o1. Mil-+0.5)

y the mm? immense? t e several views.

Fig. 1 and embodying the inven on.

The. adnantagesof the :inventiQILnS here gut; linedare best realizedwhen all .ofsits: teatures and instrumentalities arelcombinedhut useful em: bodi-nients may be produced involving .less than the whole.

t will be obvious to thoseskilled in the artto wh-iohthe invention appertains, that thessame maybe incorporated in several different .con: str'uc-tions. -'-'I he accompanying c l-ra-wi-ngy-thenefore, is submitted-merely as showing-a pref-erred exempliffication o-f theinvention. 1

Referringin detail-to- -the drawing, ii! denotes a sound apparatus embodying the invention, 'll' he same may comprise --aframe having a base l te .or membe c rdin WP m D- ri h Q stama s I? eaih i n snd i h is e ed erf r ted 9 r n l n .1- that ma a l rse renira l nen e !4- 'Qenr es nv the e e n a e the lug pipin i t t ra- ,to t ings orwiresilfi- The lattera an q isd thei "e her ends Id the tens n a st ng ne a r rin s l ro ided enth bas fil m mbr llinayhavea dg'e memben i5 forcon l heilarie iern A. .19.? nose. adiacentrto b id e L therr ilae he mvicedraifianee: i hayinsppen n ,2, th ees-12 which the.stringsrdtinzaydnass; indmidu lly Orrin groups,. this fiaDgESBLViIIgES-E sec-urine me nsras hereinafter apparent. DispQSed inwardly Qfzthe strings I 6, or to the rear :thereofare.provided.the defie'otorplates -2l -moun-tedohthe member M. The general structure and arrangement as thus far-indetail describedis-to -:furn-ish-.a rigid; trame unit carrying a-vibrator string sonndingmeans with-the str'ings arranged on oneor-more sides of 'the fiinit. f-For example this-unit might-be con 'sidered to beef square or oircular formrif circular the I strings array-extending continuous series 1 35 1 ynq .Qli i squ re-th r m e a P 1. es-f q e r91 sides 93 "the un t 3 or there may be a set of strings for only two opposed sides of the unit.

A vibratory system 22 may comprise a series of chambers disposed around a source of sound such as 23 in such .a manner that all the energy of said source is substantially confined and directed with high efficiency to the system 22 which transmits and amplifies the energy while greatly increasing the depth and intensity of the sound. The system 22 may include a bottom wall 24 and a top wall 25, .and if preferred the latter may be hollow to form a sounding chamber 2511. To this top wall is secured any suitable source of sound herein mentioned such as a radio loud speaker 23, centrally disposed so as to rest on the member l3 in communication with the opening 14. When thus disposed, the bottom wall 24 may lie sub stantially in the plane of the flange l9, and as thus supported, the system 22 may be 'detachably latched to the base Has by bars 26 pivotally mounted at 21 on the bottom 24 to thus releasably engage under the flange I9. I

The system 22 may comprise an outer imperforate wall 28 which may be coordinated with the top and bottom walls and with the base I I to substantially enclose the source of sound 16 and 23. Spaced inwardly of the outer wall is an imperiorate wall 29 which may be similarly related to the source of sound to substantially enclose the latter in conjunction with the top and bottom walls and the base element ll. Intermediate of the walls 28 and 29 is a perforated wall 30 for intercommunicating the adjoining sound chambers 32 and 33 formed thereby. Confronting the wall 29 is a perforated wall 34 having a sound opening 35, and this wall 34 is so arranged as to form a chamber 36a between imperforate wall 29 and perforated wall 34 and to enclose an inner chamber 36. It is thus seen that access of sound directly to the wall 29 from the inner chamber 36 may be had through the opening 35. It is noted that the openings 3| and 35 may be of substantially like size and are generally in alignment with each other and preferably somewhat remote from the source of sound 23 and in relative proximity to the sound deflector 2|. It is noted that the top wall forms a bridge between the sound source 23 and each of the various walls 28, 29, 36 and 35, which bridge serves as an additional conductor to energize the various walls. It is noted that the strings I6 pass be tween the latter and the system 22 whereby the full strength of the sound vibration is imparted to that system particularly adjacent to the openings therein. The arrangement of the system 22 is in general conformity with that of the central unit which comprises the strings l6 and the frame therefor. In other words, the system 22 may comprise only two opposed sets of chambers such as 32, 33, 36 and 36a, or chambers such as 32, 33, 36 and 36a may extend continuously annularly around the device, according to a circle, square or other shape. If preferred the several chambers mentioned may be reenforced by connections between their walls or by partitions.

An essential feature of the invention is that the sound chambers such as 32, 33, 36 are formed by walls consisting of a very fine grade of wood or any other material adapted for vibration for eflicient and sensitive sound transmission. These chambers lie in a path extending outward of the source of sound, radially or otherwise, these chambers preferably. increasing in size, such as volume or area, with the increase in distance from the source of sound. Thus the chamber 32 4? is substantially larger than that at 33, and the latter is larger than the chamber 3611..

These several chambers cooperate together with each other to form a complete and efiiciently sive to a source 01: sound CUIilPLlbl11g.d. Se-

ries of chambers cooperating with each other to enclose the sound source by interoTnimumcating with each other to facilitafithe travel of sound waves to insure maximum utilization of the vibratory energy that is available. According to the invention, the source of sound 23 may directly act upon the vibratory system 22, with or Without an auxiliary sounding means such as the strings lo, the source 23 being illustrative of any musical instrument or device wherein "quality and depth are material factors. The sound waves energize the inner chamber which acts as a vibrating chamber and transmits the sound through the vibrating wall 34 and the opening 35 to the chamber tea which in turn acts as a resonator. The vibrations are thus transmitted in an intensified form to wall 29 which activates chamber 33 as a vibrating chamber. A similar cycle is now begun, chamber 33 vibrating and chamber 32 in turn activated as a resonator through opemng 3| and the vibration of wall 36. The vibrations in chamber 32 in turn activate wall in; which transmits the intern-med sound to the atmosphere. It is understood that several series of vibrating and resonator chambers may be set up surrounding system 22 which would further intensify the sound. The top wall or bridge 25 materially aids in activating walls 28, 29, 30 and 34.

The arrangement of the device it is such that the tensions exerted on and by the strings l6 are not adapted to be transmitted accidentally or otherwise to the vibratory system 22, being assumed entirely by the elements ll, l2 and I3, which form an independent unit that may be directly removed from the system 22 without effecting the source of sound 23. 1

In Figure 2 is shown a device such as a chair 46 embodying the invention. This device illustrates the utilization of the invention for the purpose of imparting vibrations to a person to correct certain defects which may be mental con.- ditions or physical conditions that are influenced by mental or emotional stimuli. Thus the chair 40 is so arranged that a person may be conveniently seated therein with various parts of his body in contact with portions that vibrate in response to sound. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other devices may be provided on which a person may sit, recline 'or lie down for purposes such as those herein contemplated.

Specifically, the chair 33 comprises a base section or chamber 3': having a hollow seat 42 and a hollow back 43, these several portions providing the sound compartments 44, 45 and i3 respectively. In the case of the chambers 35 and 46, certain walls thereof which are close to or substantially in direct contact with the body of the patient may be quite thin so as to be capable of vibrating with suitable emciency; the other or adjoining walls may be relatively thick in order to afiord sufficient strength or to reenforce the relatively thin sec tions. At various points reenforcing spacer units t? may be provided in the chambers 45 and 46. The side arm sections 48 of the chair may be similarly chambered and constructed. A removable bottom closure wall 49 for the base 4! may mount the sounding device l0 so that the latter will energize the intercommunicating sound chambers 44, 45 and 46, and cause vibration of wall portions thereof to assure a relatively ample surface of contact with a person who may be seated in the chair in a natural and normal manner. Thus a person may be entertained by the music, and at the same time subjected to beneficial treatment under medical supervision, by the musical sounds acting with great intensity and depth.

By my invention it will be perceived that any ordinary sounding source may be utilized for the purpose of building up and increasing the depth and intensity of the sound to add to the aesthetic beauty of the music involved and more particularly to constitute the sound as a medium of sumcient strength to be capable of scientific use in the treatment of persons suffering from various ailments or mental conditions. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the device In may constitute a piano sounding board or may be used in lieu thereof and that the strings It may be regarded as the strings of a piano or other musical instrument vibrated in the usual manner of such instruments, instead of by the source of sound 23; and it will be further perceived that the strings I6 may be placed externally as well as internally of the system 22 or may be positioned in partly internal and in partly external relation.

I claim:

1. A sound intensifying apparatus comprising a source of sound, a first set of chambers including an inner vibrating chamber containing the sound source and an outer resonator chamber concentrically surrounding said inner chamber formed with a substantially enclosing imperforate sound responsive wall enclosing said first chamber set, a perforated sound responsive wall dividing said inrear vibrating and said outer resonator chambers, a second set of chambers concentrically surrounding said first chamber set including an inner vibrating and outer resonator chambers having a perforated sound responsive wall dividing said inner vibrating and said outer resonator chambers and an imperforate sound responsive wall enclosing the entire chamber series for transmitting the intensified sound impulses to the atmosphere.

2. A sound intensifying apparatus comprising a source of sound, a plurality of substantially closed compartments concentrically disposed about said source with the latter positioned centrally within an innermost compartment, each compartment including a perforated sound responsive wall dividin the compartment into an inner vibrating and an outer resonator chamber, and an imperforate sound responsive wall enclosing each compartment for intensifying and transmittin sound from within each compartment to the air surrounding each of said imperforate Walls.

3. The sound intensifying apparatus defined in claim 1 including a sound transmitting bridge interconnecting all of said sound responsive walls for imparting sound vibrations thereto from said soundsource.

4. The sound intensifying apparatus defined in claim 2 including a sound transmitting bridge interconnecting all of said sound responsive walls for imparting sound vibrations thereto from said sound source.

5. The sound intensifying apparatus defined in claim 1 including an outermost chamber enclosing said two sets of chambers having a vibratory wall formed with means shaped to fit contours of the human body so constructed and arranged as to transmit sound vibrations thereto when in contact therewith.

6. The sound intensifying apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said inner vibrating chamber of said first set of chambers included vibratory strings.

7. An apparatus for intensifying sound from a source comprising a compartment enclosing a sound carrying medium formed with an imperforate vibratory enclosing wall effective to serve as a sound diaphragm, said compartment being divided by a perforated partitioning wall into vibrating and resonator chambers, said vibrating chamber enclosing the sound source for activating the medium contained therein, the medium of the vibrating chamber communicating with the medium of the resonator chamber through said perforated Wall for activation thereby, said imperiorated vibratory wall being so constructed and arranged as to respond to the sound vibrations of the resonator chamber medium for intensifying the efiective sound transmitted to the exterior of said apparatus.

SAMUEL B. RUBINSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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