Self-Draining Speaker Assembly for Wet Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Speakers mounted near water sources, such as spas and pools, are prone to damage from moisture and chemical vapors like ozone, chlorine, and bromine, which degrade the materials and cause liquid accumulation that can harm the speaker.

Innovation Solution

A self-draining speaker design featuring a chassis and cover member with openings that allow liquids to pass through to the audio driver structure and then out of the speaker via a drain in the chassis, preventing damage from liquid accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the speaker is mounted near water sources to enable use in wet environments, then the speaker can be used in spas and pools, but liquid accumulation inside the speaker damages the internal components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuitability for wet environmentsVSAvoiddamage from liquid accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful liquid from the speaker enclosure by providing drainage pathways that lead liquid outside the enclosure. The cover member includes openings that allow liquid to enter the enclosure, and the chassis member includes corresponding openings that allow liquid to drain out, preventing accumulation and damage to internal components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a speaker enclosure with flexible or permeable cover and chassis members that allow liquid passage. The cover member and chassis member are designed with openings that enable the enclosure to be permeable to liquid while maintaining structural integrity and acoustic functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the speaker enclosure is sealed to protect internal components, then the speaker is protected from moisture and chemicals, but liquid cannot drain and accumulation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from moisture and chemicalsVSAvoidliquid drainage system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the speaker enclosure into a cover member and a chassis member with distinct functions. The cover member provides protection and includes openings for liquid entry, while the chassis member provides structural support and includes corresponding openings for liquid drainage, creating a segmented drainage system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover member and chassis member serve multiple functions: they provide structural enclosure for acoustic purposes, chemical resistance to protect internal components, and liquid drainage pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated drainage components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If openings are provided in the cover and chassis members to allow liquid drainage, then liquid can drain out of the speaker, but the structural integrity and acoustic performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid drainage capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity of enclosure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing openings only in specific locations on the cover member and chassis member where they do not compromise the overall structural integrity. The openings are strategically positioned to allow liquid drainage while maintaining the strength and acoustic performance of the enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Duration of action of stationary object

If the speaker components are made resistant to chemicals and moisture, then the materials last longer in wet environments, but the cost and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifespan in wet environmentsVSAvoidmanufacturing of resistant materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials for the cover member and chassis member that provide both chemical resistance and moisture resistance. These composite materials are designed to withstand exposure to pool chemicals and moisture while maintaining structural integrity, and they can be manufactured using standard molding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10015575B2Speaker assembly

Publication Date: 2018.07.03 POLY PLANAR GROUP LLC

AI summary

A self-draining speaker assembly for draining a liquid is disclosed. The speaker assembly includes a frame having a cover member and a chassis member configured to receive the cover member. The cover member includes one or more openings. The chassis member includes a drain. An audio driver is supported by the frame and has a cone portion. The one or more openings, the cone portion, and the drain are disposed relative to each other so that a liquid entering the speaker assembly through the cover member exits the speaker assembly through the drain.