Rear Side Speaker Support Assembly for Confined Vehicle Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of rear side speakers in motor vehicles with inclined rear flaps is challenging due to limited access and poor visibility, leading to tedious operations and risks of pinching electrical components during assembly.

Innovation Solution

A speaker support assembly with a hollow body forming an acoustic resonance chamber, featuring hooks for secure attachment and an elastomer sheath for cable management, allowing easier assembly through the side door opening while minimizing the risk of pinching electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the rear flap opening profile is very inclined (coupe type), then the vehicle has a sporty appearance, but the operator cannot reach the mounting areas through the rear flap opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverear flap opening profileVSAvoidaccess to mounting area
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support is divided into two main parts: a hollow body that forms the acoustic resonance chamber, and a separate plate that closes the bowl to form the complete speaker assembly. This segmentation allows the hollow body to be installed first through the side door opening, followed by the plate, making the assembly process accessible through the side door opening even when the rear flap opening is inaccessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the operator assembles the support through the side door opening due to poor visibility, then access is possible, but the operation becomes significantly more tedious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to mounting areaVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical harness and pipes are pre-routed through the hollow body before the support is installed. The hollow body is designed with openings that allow these components to be threaded through in advance, so that when the support is snapped into place, the electrical connections are already positioned correctly, eliminating the need for complex manipulation through the confined side door opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the operator assembles the support through the side door opening due to poor visibility, then access is possible, but there is a risk of pinching pipes and electrical harnesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to mounting areaVSAvoidpinching of electrical components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow body acts as an intermediary structure that protects the electrical harness and pipes during installation. These components are routed through the hollow body's internal space, which serves as a protective channel. When the support is snapped into place, the hollow body's structure prevents external compression forces from pinching the electrical components, as they are already positioned within the protected internal volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If traditional plastic brackets are used for mounting, then the structure is simple, but the assembly is tedious and risky when accessed through side door opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structureVSAvoidassembly through side door opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support integrates multiple functions into a single unified structure: the hollow body serves as both the acoustic resonance chamber and the mounting structure with integrated fixing means. The fixing means are incorporated directly into the hollow body's geometry, combining the speaker mounting function with the structural support function, eliminating the need for separate brackets and simplifying the assembly process through the side door opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates manual assembly of rear side speakers by improving access and visibility, reducing the risk of damaging cables or harnesses during installation, and ensuring secure attachment to the vehicle's quarter panel.

Implementation Method 1

an elastomer sheath guide mounted on an orifice of the lateral envelope and intended to be passed through in a sealed manner by the electrical power cable of the first loudspeaker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

said fixing means comprise two hooks extending from the bottom wall of the bowl, each hook comprising a base projecting transversely from the external face of the front portion of the bottom wall, as well as a leg extending longitudinally towards the rear from the end of the base opposite this bottom wall and intended to come to rest against the external face of the quarter panel lining

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

a hollow body forming a bowl as well as a plate intended to be fixedly attached to the hollow body so as to close the bowl to form an acoustic resonance chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic Resonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 4

a sealing gasket attached by gluing along the internal face of the peripheral collar of the bowl, so as to ensure the acoustic sealing of the resonance chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic Sealing:

Data Source

PatentEP4103431B1Support for at least one vehicle rear side speaker
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4103431B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4103431B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4103431B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a support (10) for at least one rear side loudspeaker of a motor vehicle, intended to be securely mounted against the inner face of a side quarter-panel lining of the vehicle, the support (10) comprising means for receiving at least one loudspeaker and attachment means to the side quarter-panel lining; characterised in that the attachment means comprise at least one hook (36) provided in the rear part of the support (10) and capable of interacting by hooking-in in a longitudinal direction with the respective opening provided in the quarter-panel lining, as well as at least one clipping member (37) provided in the front part of the support (10) and capable of interacting by snap-fastening in a transverse direction with a hole provided in the quarter-panel lining.