Center console comprising an acoustic enclosure
The integration of an acoustic enclosure within the center console's internal structure using symmetrical half-shells and domes addresses space constraints, achieving a compact, cost-effective, and vibration-reduced sound system.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RENAULT SA
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing motor vehicle interior sound systems face challenges in allocating space for acoustic enclosures without compromising storage or functional volume, and current solutions do not effectively address this issue.
An acoustic enclosure is integrated into the center console's internal structure, utilizing symmetrical half-shells and domes to secure loudspeakers, minimizing vibrations, and incorporating an acoustic duct to enhance low-frequency response.
The solution provides a compact, vibration-reduced acoustic system that optimizes space utilization and reduces mass and cost, while maintaining sound quality.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025088382_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Center console including an acoustic enclosure
[0003] technical field
[0004] The invention has as its technical field the interior layout of a motor vehicle and more particularly the integration of sound functions in the layout of the central console which may be a gear lever console.
[0005] Previous techniques
[0006] In current motor vehicles, the vehicle's interior sound system relies on a combination of at least two speakers and, possibly, a soundproof enclosure.
[0007] The acoustic enclosure is shaped like a box, usually equipped with a loudspeaker and fixed in the trunk.
[0008] Alternatively, two separate speakers can be installed, each mounted in one of the front doors. The door cavity then acts as a subwoofer.
[0009] In both cases, the volume allocated to the acoustic enclosure limits the volume available for other functions or to provide storage space for the user.
[0010] There is therefore a technical problem regarding the negative impact of installing an acoustic enclosure on the volume available for the installation of other functions or for providing storage space.
[0011] From the prior art, we know of document WO 2022 / 175328 dealing with the connection of loudspeakers by tie rods or spacers and document EP4112388 also dealing with means of connection between loudspeakers.
[0012] The prior art therefore does not solve the technical problem.
[0013] The aim of the invention is to propose an installation of an acoustic box that does not have a negative impact on the space available on board.
[0014] Another objective of the invention is to offer a reduction in mass and cost when integrating an acoustic enclosure. Description of the invention
[0015] The invention relates to a central console having an internal structure and a casing comprising at least two side faces. It includes an acoustic enclosure equipped with at least one pair of loudspeakers, each opening into one of the side faces of the casing, the first loudspeaker of a pair of loudspeakers being installed in a first dome, the second loudspeaker of said pair of loudspeakers being installed in a second dome, the second dome being the symmetrical counterpart of the first dome with respect to a vertical longitudinal plane, the domes being joined together so as to eliminate the vibrations generated by the loudspeakers during their operation.
[0016] The acoustic enclosure can be integrated into a free space in the center console extending from the base of the dashboard.
[0017] The acoustic enclosure can be integrated into the internal structure of the center console.
[0018] The internal structure of the central console may include two essentially symmetrical half-shells along the vertical longitudinal plane which also forms the plane of symmetry of the domes.
[0019] The acoustic enclosure can comprise two parts integrated respectively into the two half-shells of the internal structure of the center console.
[0020] The acoustic enclosure may include an acoustic duct connecting the internal volume of the acoustic enclosure, delimited by the two parts, with a dead space in the center console located below the base of the dashboard.
[0021] A dome may include a disc connected to at least two arms formed in a part of the acoustic box.
[0022] A loudspeaker can be held in a dome by means of fixing accessible from outside the center console.
[0023] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle equipped with a center console as described above and in which the acoustic enclosure integrated into said gear shift console is connected to an infotainment system of the motor vehicle.
[0024] Brief description of the drawings. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0025] - Figure [Fig 1] is a front view of a new gear lever console according to the invention,
[0026] - Figure [Fig 2] is a bird's-eye view of the internal structure of the new gear lever console,
[0027] - Figure [Fig 3] illustrates a first half-shell equipped with a first part of the acoustic housing included in the new gear lever console according to the invention,
[0028] - Figure [Fig 4] illustrates a second half-shell equipped with a second part of the acoustic housing included in the new gear lever console according to the invention,
[0029] - Figure [Fig 5] illustrates an embodiment of a new gear lever console which includes an acoustic duct,
[0030] - Figure [Fig 6] illustrates a dome supporting the loudspeaker, positioned on one side of an acoustic enclosure within a new gear lever console,
[0031] - Figure [Fig 7] is a partial cross-sectional view of the acoustic housing casing within a new gear lever console
[0032] - Figure [Fig 8] illustrates the acoustic enclosure included in a new gear lever console viewed from the second side, and
[0033] - Figure [Fig 9] is a cross-section of the acoustic box included in a new gear lever console.
[0034] Detailed description
[0035] Typically, a center console extends from a plane passing through the front edges of the driver's and passenger's seats to the dashboard. When the center console is specifically a gearshift console, it encompasses at least one gearshift lever base located near the front edges of the driver and passenger seats. It essentially comprises three surfaces visible to the user: a top surface supporting the gearshift lever base (in the case of a gearshift console), and two side surfaces, each sharing an edge with the top surface and mirrored to each other. In other words, one side surface faces the driver, while the other faces the front passenger.
[0036] To achieve the desired compactness and space-saving objectives, it is proposed to integrate an acoustic enclosure into the free space of the center console, between the base of the dashboard 2 and a plane P extending along the front edges of the driver and passenger seats, or between the base of the dashboard and the gearshift lever in the case of a console with a gearshift lever. To accomplish this, a new center console is proposed.
[0037] The new center console 1 according to the invention is shown from the front in Figure 1. It has the same essentially parallelepiped shape as consoles according to the prior art, with three faces visible to the user. In Figure 1, which specifically depicts a gearshift console, only the first lateral face, the one facing the driver, is visible. The base of the dashboard 2 is shown, as well as the lower part 3 of the gearshift lever base, and a guide la arranged on the acoustic housing. The guide la is both an aesthetic component and an element that guides the driver's foot towards the control pedals. A speaker grille le is also shown.
[0038] An acoustic box is integrated into the free space of the console, between the foot of the dashboard 2 and, depending on the type of console, the base of the gear lever or the P plane so that the two speakers, with which the acoustic box is equipped, each open into one of the side faces la.
[0039] The integration of the acoustic enclosure is carried out directly at the level of the internal structure of the new console as illustrated in figures 2 to 4.
[0040] Figure 2 is a bird's-eye view of the internal structure of the new console. The top face and both side faces, as well as the gear lever, are omitted to show the internal structure of the new console.
[0041] The internal structure of the new console comprises two essentially symmetrical half-shells, 4a and 4b, along a longitudinal plane parallel to the vehicle's y=0 plane, expressed in a normalized orthonormal coordinate system (O,X,Y,Z). This coordinate system (O,X,Y,Z) includes an X vector (1,0,0) directed towards the rear of the vehicle, a Y vector (0,1,0) directed to the right of the vehicle, and a Z vector (0,0,1) directed towards the roof of the vehicle. The origin O (0,0,0) is located at ground level, directly above the engine. The internal structure thus includes a central edge on which the various parts of the console are formed. Each part of the console is therefore cut in half at this edge, so that one half of each part of the console is found within each half-shell, 4a and 4b.
[0042] In addition to the various console components, the internal structure of the new console includes two parts, 5a and 5b, of the acoustic enclosure shell. Similar to the distribution of console components between each half-shell, 4a and 4b, the acoustic enclosure parts, 5a and 5b, are each integrated into a half-shell, 4a and 4b. In other words, each half-shell, 4a and 4b, comprises one half of the acoustic enclosure. Figure 3 illustrates the first half-shell, 4a, with the first part, 5a, of the acoustic enclosure, while Figure 4 illustrates the second half-shell, 4b, with the second part, 5b, of the acoustic enclosure.
[0043] The two half-shells 4a and 4b are then assembled so that the surfaces of the first half-shell 4a, identified by the reference S1 in Figure 3, and the surfaces of the second half-shell 4b, identified by the reference S2 in Figure 4, are in contact. The assembly is completed by securing it with screws and clips and / or by welding.
[0044] In a particular embodiment, an acoustic duct 6 is provided at the outlet of the acoustic box, in addition to the loudspeakers, and directed towards the dead space of the console located below the foot of the dashboard 2. More precisely, the acoustic duct 6 makes it possible to connect the internal volume of the acoustic box with the dead space of the console located below the foot of the dashboard 2.
[0045] In other embodiments not shown, the duct can also open into any dead space around the box, in the rear part of the box, or between the driver and passenger seats.
[0046] It should be noted that adding an acoustic duct to a soundproof enclosure increases the frequency response in the low-frequency range. Figure 5 illustrates such an implementation.
[0047] It will also be understood that the method of assembling the acoustic box, illustrated by figures 2 to 4, extends to the embodiment comprising an acoustic duct 6. The acoustic duct 6 is then divided into two parts and distributed between the two half-shells 4a, 4b. In an alternative embodiment, the duct can also be attached to the two half-shells.
[0048] However, simply fixing the speaker enclosure in this space causes disturbance to users due to the resulting vibrations. To limit or eliminate these vibrations, the speakers are secured to each other at their support dome.
[0049] Figure 6 illustrates the dome 7a supporting the loudspeaker on one side of the acoustic enclosure, specifically on the driver's side in a left-hand drive vehicle. The dome 7a essentially comprises a disc 8a connected by four arms 9a to the first part 5a of the acoustic enclosure, which forms a shell. The disc 8a is designed to accommodate means 10 for attaching the loudspeaker to the disc of the dome supporting the dome on the second side, specifically on the passenger side. The first part 5a of the acoustic enclosure is also equipped with means 1a for attaching the loudspeaker to the acoustic enclosure.
[0050] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the first part 5a of the acoustic enclosure, which forms a shell. This figure shows the structure of the dome 7a supporting the loudspeaker on the first side of the acoustic enclosure and its attachment by arms to the enclosure's shell. The partial cross-section focuses on the first part 5a of the acoustic enclosure. The reverse side of the disc 8a and the attachment means 10 to the dome disc supporting the loudspeaker on the second side are also shown.
[0051] Figure 8 illustrates the acoustic enclosure viewed from the second side. The acoustic enclosure is then formed by a shell 5b on the second side and a shell 5a on the first side, each fitted with a dome 7b, 7a respectively. Similar to the dome 7a of the first part 5a of the acoustic enclosure shown in Figures 6 and 7, the dome 7b of the second part 5b comprises a disc 8b connected by arms 9b to the shell of the acoustic enclosure. The disc 8b is fitted with at least two fastening means 10 so as to secure the discs 8a, 8b of the two domes 7a, 7b installed back to back. As in Figure 6, the loudspeaker is omitted.
[0052] Figure 9 is a cross-section of the acoustic box along a plane parallel to the x=0 plane of the vehicle.
[0053] The acoustic enclosure comprises two parts 5a, 5b, each fitted with a dome and each integrated into one of the half-shells 4a, 4b of the gearshift console. Each dome comprises a disc 8a, 8b connected to arms 9a, 9b formed in one of the parts 5a, 5b of the acoustic enclosure. Two opposing discs are held in contact by at least two fastening means 10 in order to limit vibrations resulting from the operation of the acoustic enclosure.
[0054] A loudspeaker 12a, 12b is fixed to each dome by being attached externally by at least three fastening means. The fastening means 11b of the loudspeaker 12b on the second side are illustrated in Figure 9.
[0055] Once assembled and wired, a guide with a grille for the sound outlet is attached in front of each speaker for protection. This guide and grille are not shown in Figure 9.
Claims
DEMANDS 1. Central console having an internal structure and a casing comprising at least two side faces, characterized in that it includes an acoustic box equipped with at least one pair of loudspeakers each opening into one of the side faces of the casing, a first loudspeaker of a pair of loudspeakers being installed in a first dome (7a), the second loudspeaker of said pair of loudspeakers being installed in a second dome (7b), the second dome (7b) being the symmetrical of the first dome (7a) with respect to a vertical longitudinal plane, the domes (7a, 7b) being joined together so as to eliminate the vibrations generated by the loudspeakers during their operation.
2. Center console according to claim 1, in which the acoustic box is integrated into a free space in the center console extending from the base of the dashboard (2).
3. Central console according to claim 1 or 2, in which the acoustic enclosure is integrated at the level of the internal structure of the central console.
4. Central console according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the internal structure of the central console comprises two essentially symmetrical half-shells (4a, 4b) along the vertical longitudinal plane which also forms the plane of symmetry of the domes (7a, 7b).
5. Central console according to claim 4, in which the acoustic box comprises two parts (5a, 5b) integrated respectively into the two half-shells (4a, 4b) of the internal structure of the central console.
6. Central console according to claim 5, in which the acoustic box includes an acoustic duct (6) connecting the internal volume of the acoustic box delimited by the two parts (5a, 5b) with a dead space in the central console located below the foot of the dashboard (2).
7. A center console according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein a dome (7a, 7b) comprises a disc (8a, 8b) connected to at least two arms (9a, 9b) formed in a portion (5a, 5b) of the acoustic housing.
8. A center console according to claim 7, wherein a loudspeaker is held in a dome by fastening means accessible from outside the center console.
9. Motor vehicle equipped with a central console according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the acoustic enclosure integrated into said central console is connected to an infotainment system of the motor vehicle.