Speaker arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle, the loudspeaker assembly (10) comprising a loudspeaker box (12), the loudspeaker box (12) having a mounting plate (16), a plurality of mounting slots (24, 26, 28) formed in the mounting plate (16), a loudspeaker grille (14) attached to the loudspeaker box (12), the loudspeaker grille (14) having a plurality of mounting tabs (50, 52, 54), each mounting tab (50, 52, 54) projecting through a corresponding one of the mounting slots (24, 26, 28), the loudspeaker grille (14) having a plurality of seal engagement elements (56, 58, 60) projecting toward the loudspeaker box (12) and surrounding a base portion of a corresponding one of the mounting tabs (50, 52, 54), and a resilient seal element (30), portions of the elastic sealing element (30) between the mounting plate (16) and a corresponding one of the sealing engagement elements (56, 58, 60).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a loudspeaker arrangement for a vehicle.

[0002] In agricultural tractor cabs, speaker arrays do not utilize tuned port technology. As a result, most tractor cab audio systems provide poor sound quality to the operator. High-end audio systems utilize subwoofers in separate enclosures or speaker cabinets to produce low-frequency sound. These speaker cabinets may or may not incorporate a tuned port, which forms a Helmholtz resonator, for enhanced low-frequency performance. When a tuned port is used, it is typically a separate part attached to the speaker cabinet. To produce the best low-frequency sound quality from a speaker cabinet-mounted audio speaker, the tuned port is designed to allow air and sound waves to escape from the rear of the audio speaker.The tuned port can be placed through any surface of the speaker cabinet, as long as the air space it vents is away from the rear of the audio speaker. A speaker grille is mounted over the audio speaker to protect the speaker cone from damage. Numerous parts, gaskets, and mounting devices are required for this type of speaker arrangement to create a suitable speaker cabinet for the audio speaker.

[0003] In technology, a simplified loudspeaker arrangement is therefore necessary to ensure the best sound quality.

[0004] These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, which provides a speaker assembly for a vehicle. The speaker assembly includes a speaker box, the speaker box having a mounting plate. A plurality of mounting slots are formed in the mounting plate. A speaker grille is attached to the speaker box, the speaker grille having a plurality of mounting tabs, each mounting tab extending through a corresponding one of the mounting slots, and the speaker grille having a plurality of seal engagement elements projecting toward the speaker box and surrounding a base portion of a corresponding one of the mounting tabs. Portions of a resilient seal element are compressed between the mounting plate and a corresponding one of the seal engagement elements.

[0005] This speaker arrangement requires only a single elastic sealing element and a single speaker grille, with the tuned port either molded or mounted to the mounting plate with hidden mechanical fasteners. This reduces the number of parts and assembly costs, as the speaker grille simply snaps onto the speaker cabinet's mounting plate using the mounting tabs that interact with the mounting slots. The speaker grille, with its properly sized tuned port, creates a speaker cabinet that delivers the highest quality sound from the audio speaker.

[0006] For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques and structure of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which similar components are designated by identical reference numerals: Fig. 1 is a front view of a loudspeaker assembly embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the speaker assembly of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a speaker grille of Fig. 1 from behind, Fig. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the speaker assembly taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1, Fig. Figure 5 is a sectional view of the speaker assembly taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1, Fig. Figure 6 is a sectional view of the speaker assembly taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 7 is a sectional view of the speaker assembly taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

[0007] With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a loudspeaker assembly 10 for a vehicle (not shown) such as an agricultural tractor comprises a resonator or loudspeaker box 12 and a loudspeaker grille 14 mounted on the loudspeaker box 12. As best seen in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the speaker cabinet 12 includes a front or mounting plate 16. The mounting plate 16 includes a speaker opening 18 in which a conventional audio speaker 19 is mounted. A tuned port opening 22 is spaced from the speaker opening 18. A plurality of rectangular mounting slots 24, 26, and 28 are spaced apart and formed in the mounting plate 16.

[0008] A generally rectangular resilient sealing member 30, made from a single piece of closed-cell foam rubber, is held between the speaker grille 14 and the mounting plate 16. The resilient sealing member 30 has a speaker opening 31 and a tuned port opening 32 spaced from the speaker opening 31. A plurality of rectangular mounting slots 34, 36, and 38 are spaced apart and formed in the resilient sealing member 30.

[0009] How best to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the speaker grille 14 includes a generally rectangular plate 40 having formed therein a speaker opening 42, a tuned port 44, and an array or set of speaker perforations 46. A tapered port cylinder 48 surrounds the tuned port 44 and extends from the mounting plate 40, through the tuned port openings 32 and 22, and into the speaker cabinet 12. Mounting or mounting tabs 50, 52, and 54 are spaced apart and project from the plate 40 and each have an H-shaped cross-section. The mounting tabs 50, 52, and 54 are molded into the speaker grille 14. A base portion of each mounting tab 50, 52, and 54 is surrounded by a corresponding one of tab ribs 56, 58, and 60. Each tab rib 56, 58, and 60 forms a circular sealing surface or seal engagement element. A base portion of the tapered port cylinder 48 is surrounded by a circular port rib 62. As also Fig. 6, using the mounting tab 50 as an example, each mounting tab 50, 52, and 54 forms four stops or shoulder surfaces 64 facing away from and spaced from the mounting plate 16. Each mounting tab 50, 52, and 54 extends through a corresponding one of mounting slots 34, 36, and 38 in the resilient seal member 30 and mounting slots 24, 26, and 28 in the mounting plate 16 to position and mount the speaker grille 14 with respect to the mounting plate 16.

[0010] How best to Fig. 6 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 7, spring clips 70 are attached to the mounting tabs 50, 52, and 54 to secure the speaker grille 14 to the mounting plate 16. The mounting tabs 50, 52, and 54 are perpendicular to the circular sealing surfaces formed by the tab ribs 56, 58, and 60.

[0011] As through Fig. 6, the shoulder surfaces 64 again extend through the mounting slots 34, 36, and 38 of the resilient sealing member 30 and engage the end face of the mounting plate 16, thereby properly positioning the speaker grille 14 relative to the mounting plate 16 when the speaker grille 14 is attached to the mounting plate 16. The tab ribs 56, 58, and 60 around each mounting tab 50, 52, and 54 have a height that provides for proper compression of the closed-cell foam rubber of the resilient sealing member 30. This provides the proper spacing between the mounting plate 16 and the tab ribs 56, 58, and 60 and the circular port rib 62 so that they compress the resilient sealing member 30 by the correct amount.

[0012] The result is a speaker box 12 that maximizes the space available in an overhead console (not shown) for an agricultural application. The front area of ​​the speaker box 12 is large enough to allow the tuned port 44 to be integrated into the speaker grille 14. The tuned port 44 ventilates the air space behind the audio speaker 19. The mounting plate 16 of the speaker box 12 has the speaker opening 18 and mounting points (not shown) for the audio speaker 19.

[0013] The mounting tabs 50, 52 and 54 reduce the installation time and are hidden mechanical fasteners that attach the speaker grille 14 to the mounting plate 16. As best seen from Fig.7, each spring clip 70 is received in one of the mounting slots 24, 26, and 28 in the mounting plate 16 so that the spring clip 70 can expand against the back of the mounting plate 16 and hold the speaker grille 14 to the mounting plate 16. Upon installation of the speaker grille 14 using the spring clips 70, portions of the resilient sealing member 30 are compressed by the tab ribs 56, 58, and 60 and the circular port rib 62 so that the tuned port 44 and the tab ribs 56, 58, and 60 surrounding the mounting tabs 50, 52, and 54 are all sealed to the mounting plate 16 of the speaker cabinet 12.

[0014] The length of the tuned port 44 is greater than the thickness of the speaker grille 14 and extends past the mounting plate 16 into the speaker cabinet 12. The tuned port 44 extends through the tuned port opening 22 of the mounting plate 16 and is exposed to the air space behind the audio speaker 19. A clearance is provided between an outer diameter of the tuned port 44 and the tuned port opening 22. The resilient sealing member 30 is attached to the mounting plate 16 with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the resilient sealing member 30. The diameter of the tuned port opening 32 in the resilient sealing member 30 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tuned port 44. Therefore, the resilient sealing member 30 engages the outer surface of the tuned port 44 and seals the gap therebetween.The resilient sealing member 30 is supported by the mounting plate 16 such that upon insertion of the tuned port 44 into the tuned port opening 32 of the resilient sealing member 30, the closed-cell foam rubber is radially expanded to provide a complete seal to the outer surface of the tuned port 44.

[0015] With this elastic sealing element 30, the air space behind the audio speaker 19 is now only ventilated through the interior of the tuned port 44.

Claims

[1] A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle, the loudspeaker assembly (10) comprising a loudspeaker box (12), the loudspeaker box (12) having a mounting plate (16), a plurality of mounting slots (24, 26, 28) formed in the mounting plate (16), a loudspeaker grille (14) attached to the loudspeaker box (12), the loudspeaker grille (14) having a plurality of mounting tabs (50, 52, 54), each mounting tab (50, 52, 54) projecting through a corresponding one of the mounting slots (24, 26, 28), the loudspeaker grille (14) having a plurality of seal engagement elements (56, 58, 60) projecting toward the loudspeaker box (12) and surrounding a base portion of a corresponding one of the mounting tabs (50, 52, 54), and an elastic seal element (30), Portions of the elastic sealing element (30) are compressed between the mounting plate (16) and a corresponding one of the sealing engagement elements (56, 58, 60). [2] Loudspeaker arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by in that the loudspeaker grille (14) forms a loudspeaker opening (42) and a tuned port (44) spaced from the loudspeaker opening (42), wherein the loudspeaker grille (14) forms a tapered port cylinder (48) surrounding the tuned port (44), and wherein the elastic sealing element (30) sealingly engages an outer surface of the tapered port cylinder (48). [3] Loudspeaker arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by in that the elastic sealing element (30) has a tuned port opening (32) which receives a tapered port cylinder (48), and a plurality of mounting slots (34, 36, 38), each mounting slot (34, 36, 38) receiving a corresponding one of the mounting tabs (50, 52, 54). [4] Loudspeaker arrangement according to claims 1 to 3, characterized byin that each seal engagement element comprises a tab rib (56, 58, 60) projecting from a surface of the loudspeaker grille (14) and surrounding the base portion of a corresponding one of the mounting tabs (50, 52, 54). [5] Loudspeaker arrangement according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by in that the loudspeaker grille (14) comprises a circular port rib (62) which projects towards the mounting plate (16) and which surrounds a base portion of the tapered port cylinder (48), wherein a portion of the elastic sealing element (30) is compressed between the mounting plate (16) and the circular port rib (62).

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