Movable or removable closures – Panel with closure feature – With means to accommodate window accessory; e.g.,...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-08
2001-05-08
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Panel with closure feature
With means to accommodate window accessory; e.g.,...
C181S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226927
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automobile vehicle door of the type comprising a box structure, a module adapted to be applied on the periphery of an opening formed in the inner side of the box structure, the module carrying components including an acoustic enclosure with a loudspeaker, and an inner trim panel covering the module.
It is known that there are two types of acoustic enclosures for high fidelity sound systems: the closed enclosures which define a closed box containing the speaker which excites the air, and the so-called “bass reflex” enclosures in which the volume of air behind the speaker communicates with the front side of the enclosure through a vent.
In the closed enclosures, the wave emitted by the rear side of the speaker must be absorbed. Only the wave emitted by the front side of the speaker is sent in the direction of the listener, so that all the bass frequencies are eliminated.
On the other hand, with the bass reflex enclosures, the volume of air is no longer closed but open and the wave emitted by the rear side of the speaker is re-emitted toward the front with a judicious arrangement of volumes and lengths of the vent duct so that the frequency of excitation of the rear volume of air is lower than the frequency of resonance of the speaker. In this case, the enclosure emits highly amplified low frequencies. The invention does not concern the choice of the volumes which are considered to be known.
Heretofore, in vehicle doors of the aforementioned type, the speaker was mounted on the sheet metal structure of the door which forms a sealed closed cavity absorbing the rear wave. This arrangement does not permit obtaining strong bass frequencies so that the acoustic efficiency in low frequencies is not as satisfactory as in the case of the bass reflex enclosures. Further, the interior of the doors is not watertight which constitutes an obstacle to the installation of acoustic enclosures of the bass reflex type on a vehicle door since in this case water and noise could enter the compartment of the vehicle through the vent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is therefore to solve this problem by permitting the installation of acoustic enclosures of the bass reflex type with a vent on a component-supporting module of an automobile vehicle door.
According to the invention, the module is fixed in a watertight manner on the periphery of the opening of the box structure, means are provided for defining in the module a volume of air excited by the rear wave of the speaker, and a vent is provided in the trim panel for returning the rear wave of the speaker in the direction toward a listening zone.
The vent, which constitutes a calibrated air passage, returns the rear wave of the speaker toward the listening zone, this rear wave exciting the volume of air of the enclosure while the front wave is directed directly toward the listening area. As in the case of conventional bass reflex enclosures, the frequency of resonance of the closed volume of air and the size of the vent are chosen to improve the acoustic power of the enclosure in bass frequencies relative to the acoustic power of the speaker alone.
Further, the sealed mounting of the module on the box structure prevents any penetration of water inside the compartment of the vehicle through the vent, while the volume of air excited by the rear wave of the speaker may be defined by appropriate means.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the volume of air is between the module and the trim panel and is defined by a peripheral rib of the module which is applied in a sealed manner on the trim panel.
The module is preferably made of a plastics material, the rib being molded in one piece therewith.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the invention by way of non-limitative examples.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4928788 (1990-05-01), Erickson
patent: 3027286A1 (1981-02-01), None
patent: 61-132443 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 63-287296 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 04022296 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 06006885 (1994-01-01), None
Abstract of Japanese No. 04022296 filed on Jan. 27, 1992.
Abstract of Japanese No. 06006885 filed on Jan. 14, 1994.
Abstract of Japanese No. 61132443 filed on Jun. 19, 1986.
Abstract of Japanese No. 63287296 filed on Nov. 24, 1988.
Arquevaux Laurent
Bertolini Carlo
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Cohen Curtis A.
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems--France
Stodola Daniel P.
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