초록 ▼

Some embodiments of the present invention enable a user to select from different appearances and sound types by providing different door chime assembly housing covers. The housing covers can be different in shape, size, appearance, and/or acoustic property, and preferably can be releasably mounted a

Some embodiments of the present invention enable a user to select from different appearances and sound types by providing different door chime assembly housing covers. The housing covers can be different in shape, size, appearance, and/or acoustic property, and preferably can be releasably mounted a housing base. A door chime assembler, manufacturer, or user can therefore select from different door chime assembly appearances and acoustic properties by selecting one of two or more different housing covers. The door chime assembly can employ a number of different features that change the sound quality of the door chime assembly, including a domed or tented housing cover shape, a housing cover having curved edges and corners, an open acoustic chamber unbroken by internal walls, and side wall housing apertures. Other significant advantages are provided by the use of a door chime assembly transformer that is mounted to the door chime assembly housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A door chime assembly, comprising: a housing having a base;a cover coupled to the base; andat least one housing wall; a chime at least partially located within the housing; a striker movable to strike the chime; an actuator coupled to the striker and actuatable to move the striker; a

1. A door chime assembly, comprising: a housing having a base;a cover coupled to the base; andat least one housing wall; a chime at least partially located within the housing; a striker movable to strike the chime; an actuator coupled to the striker and actuatable to move the striker; a transformer mounted upon the housing to define a transformer and housing unit of the door chime assembly, the transformer electrically coupled to the actuator, and isolated from the actuator by the at least one housing wall; and a user-manipulatable control coupled to the actuator to trigger actuation of the striker. 2. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base defines the at least one housing wall.3. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transformer and the actuator are mounted on opposite sides of the at least one housing wall.4. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: high-voltage wiring coupled to the transformer and supplying power to the transformer; and low-voltage wiring coupled to the actuator and supplying power to the actuator, wherein the at least one housing wall substantially separates the high-voltage wiring from the low-voltage wiring.5. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a metal coil within which the striker is movably received.6. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator, chime, and cover are snap-fit to the base.7. A door chime assembly, comprising: a housing having a base;a cover coupled to the base; and a chime at least partially located within the housing; a striker movable to strike the chime; an actuator coupled to the striker and actuatable to move the striker; a transformer mounted upon the housing to define a transformer and housing unit of the door chime assembly, the transformer electrically coupled to the actuator; a transformer housing at least partially enclosing the transformer, the transformer isolated from the actuator by the transformer housing; and a user-manipulatable control coupled to the actuator to trigger actuation of the striker. 8. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transformer is also isolated from the actuator by the base.9. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transformer and the actuator are mounted on opposite sides of the base.10. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: high-voltage wiring coupled to the transformer and supplying power to the transformer; and low-voltage wiring coupled to the actuator and supplying power to the actuator, wherein the transformer housing substantially separates the high-voltage wiring from the low-voltage wiring.11. A door chime assembly, comprising; a housing having a base;a first cover removably coupled to the base; andan acoustic chamber defined at least partially by the base and the first cover; a chime located at least partially within the acoustic chamber; an actuator; a striker coupled to the actuator and movable thereby to strike the chime; a user-manipulatable control electrically coupled to the actuator and; a transformer mounted upon the housing, supplied with power via high-voltage wiring, and electrically coupled to the actuator; the housing adapted to be removably coupled to at least one other cover different in appearance from the first cover, wherein the transformer and housing define a transformer and housing unit of the door chime assembly. 12. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first cover and the at least one other cover are removably couplable to the base by at least one common fastener.13. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first cover and the at least one other cover are removably couplable to the base by snap-fitting to the base.14. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first cover and the at least one other cover have substantially identical internal shapes partially defining the acoustic chamber when coupled to the base.15. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transformer and the actuator are separated by at least one housing wall.16. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one housing wall is defined by the base.17. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing is mountable for operation in any orientation.18. A method of assembling a door chime assembly, comprising: providing a base having substantially oppositely-facing front and rear sides; coupling a transformer to the rear side of the base to define a transformer and base unit of the door chime assembly; orienting the front side of the base substantially toward an installer; coupling a chime to the base solely from the front side of the base; coupling an actuator and striker assembly to the base solely from the front side of the base; electrically coupling the transformer to the actuator solely from the front side of the base; and coupling a cover to the base solely from the front side of the base. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: inserting the transformer into an electrical receptacle; and coupling the door chime assembly to the electrical receptacle. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein inserting the transformer into the electrical receptacle occurs before coupling the transformer to the rear side of the base.21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein inserting the transformer into the electrical receptacle occurs after coupling the transformer to the rear side of the base.22. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein coupling the chime and the actuator and striker assembly to the base includes snap-fitting the chime and the actuator and striker assembly to the base.23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein coupling the cover to the base includes snap-fitting the cover to the base.24. The method as claim 18, further comprising coupling a user-manipulatable control to the actuator.25. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising coupling a user-manipulatable control to the actuator solely from the front side of the base.26. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the actuator and striker assembly and the transformer are located on opposite sides of a housing wall.27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the housing wall is defined by the base.28. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising shielding high-voltage wiring to the transformer from low-voltage wiring to the actuator and striker assembly by at least one housing wall.29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one housing wall is a wall of the base.30. A method of assembling a door chime assembly, comprising: coupling a chime to a base having at least one wall; coupling an actuator and striker assembly to the base; coupling a transformer to the base on a side of the at least one wall opposite the chime to define a transformer and base unit of the door chime assembly; shielding the transformer from the actuator and striker assembly with the at least one wall; and coupling a cover to the base to at least partially enclose the chime within a chamber defined by the cover and the base. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising: inserting the transformer into an electrical receptacle; and coupling the door chime assembly to the electrical receptacle. 32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein inserting the transformer into the electrical receptacle occurs before coupling the transformer to the base.33. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein inserting the transformer into the electrical receptacle occurs after coupling the transformer to the base.34. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein coupling the chime and the actuator and striker assembly to the base includes snap -fitting the chime and the actuator and striker assembly to the base.35. The method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising: coupling a high-voltage power line to the transformer; coupling the transformer to the actuator and striker assembly with a low-voltage power line; and shielding the high-voltage power line from the low-voltage power line with the at least one wall. 36. The method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising coupling a user-manipulatable control to the actuator and striker assembly.37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising shielding electrical wiring associated with the user-manipulatable control from electrical wiring associated with the transformer with the at least one wall.38. A method of assembling a door chime assembly, comprising: providing a base; snap-fitting an actuator and striker assembly to the base without the use of tools; snap-filling at least one chime to the base without the use of tools; snap-fitting a cover to the base without the use of tools; and snap-fitting a transformer to the base without the use of tools to define a transformer and base unit of the door chime assembly. 39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the transformer is snap-fit to the base by snap-fitting a transformer cover to the base.40. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein snap-fitting the at least one chime to the base includes snap-fitting the at least one chime to at least one chime mount extending from the base.41. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the snap-fitting steps are all performed from one side of the base without access to an opposite side of the base.42. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising electrically coupling a transformer to the actuator and striker assembly from the one side of the base without access to the opposite side of the base.43. A door chime assembly, comprising: a base; an actuator and striker assembly coupled to the base by a snap-fit connection; at least one chime coupled to the base by a snap-fit connection; a cover coupled to the base by a snap-fit connection; a transformer electrically coupled to the actuator and striker assembly, wherein the transformer is coupled to the base by a snap-fit connection to define a transformer and base unit of the door chime assembly; and a user-manipulatable control electrically coupled to the actuator and striker assembly. 44. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 43, further comprising at least one chime mount extending from the base, wherein the at least one chime is coupled to the base by a snap-fit connection to the at least one chime mount.45. The door chime assembly as claimed in claim 43, wherein the actuator and striker assembly, the at least one chime, and the cover are all accessible solely from a front side of the base.