Loudspeaker Grille Mounting Arrangement for Vehicle Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loudspeaker arrangements in vehicles face challenges in achieving fast, cost-effective assembly and an appealing aesthetic while ensuring secure mounting and water resistance.

Innovation Solution

A mounting arrangement featuring a frame with guiding and fastening elements that snap into corresponding counterparts on the loudspeaker enclosure, allowing for secure horizontal and vertical fixation, and a design that angles the frame sections to create a sleek appearance while concealing mounting mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional screw mounting is used for loudspeaker enclosures, then secure mounting is achieved, but assembly time increases and cost effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidmounting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: guiding elements with pins for horizontal positioning, fastening elements for vertical securing, and counterpart receptacles. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling fast snap-in assembly while maintaining secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding elements and fastening elements are pre-positioned on the frame, and the counterparts are pre-formed on the loudspeaker enclosure. This preliminary arrangement allows the components to self-align and assemble quickly without requiring complex alignment procedures or multiple assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If mounting mechanisms are exposed on the loudspeaker arrangement, then secure fixation is achieved, but aesthetic appeal decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting mechanisms (guiding elements, fastening elements, and counterparts) are extracted and positioned on the rear side of the frame, away from the visible front surface. This allows the front of the loudspeaker arrangement to maintain a clean, appealing appearance while the mounting mechanisms remain functional and secure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting mechanism is relocated from the visible front dimension to the rear dimension of the frame. By positioning all mounting components on the rear side, the invention separates the functional mounting aspect from the aesthetic display aspect, allowing both security and appearance requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If frame sections are arranged at standard angles, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but aesthetic appeal and water resistance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvisual appeal and water sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The angle parameter between frame sections is changed from standard angles (0°, 90°, 180°) to non-standard angles between 20° and 70°. This parameter change creates a more appealing visual appearance and improves water resistance by preventing water from channeling directly along the frame joints, while still maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard bending and joining processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3726848B1Mounting arrangement for a loudspeaker grille
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH
  • EP3726848B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3726848B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6B
  • EP3726848B1 patent drawingFigure 6C~9

AI summary

A mounting arrangement comprises a frame (10) configured to accommodate a speaker grille (184), at least one guiding element (202) connected to the frame (10), wherein each of the at least one guiding element (202) is configured to be inserted into a corresponding first counterpart (222) that is connected to a loudspeaker enclosure (30), wherein, when the at least one guiding element (202) is inserted into the corresponding first counterpart (222), the frame (10) is fixated at least in a first direction or plane with respect to the loudspeaker enclosure (30), and at least one fastening element (204) connected to the frame (10), wherein each of the at least one fastening element (204) is configured to be inserted into a corresponding second counterpart (224) that is connected to the loudspeaker enclosure (30), wherein, when the at least one fastening element (204) is inserted into the corresponding second counterpart (224), the frame (10) is fixated at least in a second direction or plane with respect to the loudspeaker enclosure (30), wherein the second direction or plane is different from the first direction or plane.