Vehicle Seat Speaker Grill Mounting for Comfort and Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speaker systems in vehicle seats often compromise user comfort due to mechanical instability when rigid grill assemblies are attached to rigid structures, leading to discomfort during head or hand contact, and may become loose over time when decoupled from these structures.
Innovation Solution
A speaker system where the grill assembly is decoupled from rigid structures and securely attached to non-rigid outer layers using a grill mount, allowing for improved mechanical stability and comfort by using soft materials with appropriate shore hardness and engagement structures to prevent loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the speaker grill assembly is rigidly attached to the seat structure, then mechanical stability is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to force transfer to the internal structure
Solution Approach 1:
A soft outer layer (shoe A hardness less than 90) is introduced as an intermediary between the rigid seat structure and the speaker grill assembly. This intermediate layer absorbs forces applied to the grill, preventing force transfer to the internal structure while maintaining mechanical stability through the engagement structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the speaker grill assembly is decoupled from rigid structures, then user comfort is improved, but reliability deteriorates as the grill may become loose over time
Solution Approach 1:
The grill assembly is constructed from composite materials including a soft outer layer (shore A hardness less than 90) and a rigid grill mount. This composite structure provides both comfort through the soft material and reliability through the rigid engagement structure, preventing the grill from becoming loose over time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft materials are used for the grill assembly, then user comfort is improved, but strength deteriorates compared to rigid materials
Solution Approach 1:
The grill assembly combines soft materials (outer layer with shore A hardness less than 90) for comfort with rigid components (grill mount with engagement structure) for strength. This composite construction allows the soft materials to contact the user while the rigid structures provide the necessary mechanical strength.
4Manufacturing precision
If the grill mount is integrated into the rigid portion of the headrest, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as it cannot accommodate soft outer layers
Solution Approach 1:
The grill mount is segmented from the rigid headrest structure, allowing it to be independently positioned and attached to the soft outer layer. This segmentation enables the grill mount to accommodate both precise positioning requirements and compatibility with soft outer layers through separate attachment mechanisms.
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
The solution enhances user comfort by distributing applied forces over a larger, softer area and maintains cosmetic appeal by ensuring the grill assembly remains securely attached, providing both mechanical stability and aesthetic preference.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for making portions of the grill assembly deformable, and improve a user's comfort level
Implementation Method 2
The grill mount can include a snap-fit mechanism configured to engage with the portion of the speaker grill-assembly
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a seat headrest (500) that includes an interior chamber that accommodates an acoustic transducer, and an acoustic channel (226) disposed between the interior chamber and an external opening in the seat headrest. The headrest also includes a soft outer layer disposed around at least a portion of a periphery of the external opening, and a grill mount (205). The grill mount is disposed in or attached to the outer layer, the grill mount extending, at least in part, around the periphery of the acoustic channel, and configured to engage with a portion of a speaker grill-assembly in a mating configuration.