APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NOISE REDUCTION IN A VEHICLE

• US 20070182213A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lorenzo, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,987 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

An area-reducing surface texture applied to a noise-prone portion of a vehicle panel or part where it makes contact with an unsecured length of wire harness, duct or other conduit. A plurality of small spaced structures is formed on or in the surface with their distal ends in contact with the wire harness, duct or other conduit. The total area of the contact ends of the structures is less than the original noise-prone surface area. This reduces the area of contact between the noise-prone portion of the panel and the wire harness, duct or other conduit.

Claims

1. A component for a vehicle equipped with at least one conduit, comprising:

at least one component surface adapted to be placed in close proximity to a conduit when the component surface is installed in a vehicle; and

a plurality of texture structures on the component surface, the texture structures defining a plurality of spaced-apart contact surfaces for the conduit;

wherein the contact surfaces have a total area that is less than the total area of the component surface to reduce noise caused by interaction between the conduit and the component surface.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of texture structures comprises a plurality of small spaced structures formed on the component surface, the plurality of small spaced structures each having a contact end that defines the spaced-apart contact surface for the conduit.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein the small spaced structures are flexible.

4. The component of claim 2, wherein the small spaced structures are rigid.

5. The component of claim 2, wherein the small spaced structures each include a base portion opposite the contact end, the base portion having a width greater than the width of the contact end, the base portions being configured on the surface so that the base portions of adjacent small spaced structures are in contact.

6. The component of claim 2, wherein the shape of at least one of the small spaced structures is selected from the group consisting of pyramids, cones, cylinders, and hemispherical dimples.

7. The component of claim 1, wherein the plurality of texture structures are irregularly shaped.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the spacing of the contact surfaces from one another is greater than the individual width of each contact surface.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are raised from the component surface.

10. The component of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces comprise a portion of the component surface.

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a conduit including an unsecured conduit portion;

a component having a surface placed in close proximity to the unsecured conduit portion; and

a plurality of texture structures on the component surface, the textured structures defining a plurality of spaced-apart contact surfaces for the unsecured conduit portion;

wherein the contact surfaces have a total area that is less than the total area of the component surface.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of texture structures comprises a plurality of small spaced structures formed on the component surface, the plurality of small spaced structures each having a contact end that defines a spaced-apart contact surface for the unsecured conduit portion.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the small spaced structures are flexible.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the small spaced structures are rigid.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the small spaced structures each include a base portion opposite the contact end, the base portion having a width greater than the width of the contact end, the base portions being configured on the component surface so that the base portions of adjacent small spaced structures are in contact.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the shape of at least one of the small spaced structures is selected from the group consisting of pyramids, cones, cylinders, and hemispherical dimples.

17. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of texture structures are irregularly shaped.

18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the spacing of the contact surfaces from one another is greater than the individual width of each contact surface.

19. A method for installing a conduit in a vehicle, comprising:

installing in the vehicle a component having a noise-prone surface with a plurality of texture structures, the texture structures defining a plurality of spaced-apart contact surfaces;

wherein the contact surfaces have a total area that is less than the total area of the noise-prone surface; and

installing in the vehicle a conduit adjacent to the vehicle component so that an unsecured portion of the conduit is in close proximity to the contact surfaces defined by the plurality of texture structures.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of texture structures comprises a plurality of small spaced structures formed on the component surface, the plurality of small spaced structures each having a contact end that defines the spaced-apart contact surfaces for the unsecured conduit portion.