Speaker Assembly Rim Coupling via Insert Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speaker assembly designs face challenges in efficiently assembling plastic speaker baskets with metallic shellpots, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and cost due to varying shellpot geometries and insufficient durability of attachment methods, which can affect magnetic flux density and speaker performance.

Innovation Solution

A speaker assembly design featuring a shellpot with an upstanding rim and protrusion, coupled with a plastic speaker basket using an insert member that engages the rim sections to secure the shellpot without additional fasteners or adhesives, allowing for easy assembly and reduced manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If plastic speaker baskets are molded directly over metallic speaker shellpots, then weight is reduced and cost is lowered, but new tooling must be produced for each shellpot design increasing manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker basket weightVSAvoidtooling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the speaker basket and shellpot into distinct components that can be assembled together. The basket is designed with a receptacle that receives the shellpot, allowing each component to be manufactured independently using standard tooling, thereby reducing the need for custom molds for each shellpot design variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The basket receptacle is designed with universal features that can accommodate multiple shellpot designs. The attachment mechanism uses standardized elements that work with various shellpot geometries, allowing a single basket design to support different speaker configurations without requiring new tooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If twist lock design or adhesive is used to attach shellpot to plastic basket, then multiple shellpots can be attached to common basket, but durability is insufficient for some applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with multiple shellpotsVSAvoidattachment durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a circumferential groove with curved geometry that receives a corresponding protrusion on the shellpot. This curved interface provides superior mechanical interlocking compared to twist-lock or adhesive methods, distributing stresses evenly around the circumference and preventing detachment under vibration and thermal cycling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The shellpot is nested within the basket receptacle, with the shellpot protrusion fitting into the basket groove. This nested configuration provides secure mechanical retention while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction, maintaining reliable attachment across varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If twist lock or locking detail is used to attach shellpot, then attachment is achieved, but tooling complexity and manufacturing issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The circumferential groove and protrusion automatically align during assembly, and the mechanical interlocking engages without requiring additional fasteners, locking details, or complex tooling operations. The design eliminates the need for separate attachment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the attachment function with the structural design of the basket and shellpot themselves. The circumferential groove is integrated into the basket wall, and the protrusion is an integral part of the shellpot, merging the attachment mechanism with the component geometry rather than adding separate attachment hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2966880B1Speaker assembly
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP2966880B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2966880B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2966880B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A speaker assembly includes a shellpot for receiving a speaker motor, the shellpot including an upstanding rim on an upper portion of the shellpot, and speaker basket including a base portion having an opening therein for receiving the shellpot. An insert member is disposed adjacent the speaker basket and the rim, wherein a plurality of sections of the rim are displaced to abut the insert member and couple the shellpot to the speaker basket. A method of assembling the speaker assembly is also provided.