SPEAKER ASSEMBLY

• US 20200137499A1
• Filed: 10/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Boron, Artur, Szostek, Grzegorz
• Granted Patent: US 11,290,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 7/127 dome-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/046 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers

Abstract

The invention relates to a speaker assembly. In order to enable a cost-effective assembly of an electronic device with a speaker, the invention provides that the speaker assembly comprises: a base element having a surface, which is at least partially electrically conductive;

a speaker associated with the base element;

a cover element at least partially covering the base element and comprising a receiving section in which the speaker is at least partially received;

a rubber-elastic mounting element interposed between the speaker and the cover element for retaining the speaker in the receiving section; and

at least one connector element electrically connecting the speaker with the base element, which connector element is preloaded between the speaker and the base element.

Claims

1. A speaker assembly comprising:

a base element having a surface, which is at least partially electrically conductive;

a speaker cooperating with the surface of the base element for its connection;

a cover element at least partially covering the base element and comprising a receiving section in which the speaker is at least partially received;

a rubber-elastic mounting element interposed between the speaker and the cover element for retaining the speaker in the receiving section; and

at least one connector element electrically connecting the speaker with the base element, which the at least one connector element is preloaded between the speaker and the base element.

2. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one connector element is a spring that is elastically deformed between the speaker and the base element.

3. The speaker assembly according to claim 2, wherein said at least one connector element is a coil spring.

4. The speaker assembly according claim 1, wherein said mounting element form-fittingly engages said speaker and the cover element.

5. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section comprises a sidewall section, which is at least partially disposed laterally of the speaker, said sidewall section being closed at one end by an end section and open at another end towards the base element.

6. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises at least one guide section for guiding the at least one connector element, wherein the at least one guide section extends from a proximity of the speaker towards the base element.

7. The speaker assembly according to claim 6, wherein said at least one guide section is tubular and said at least one connector element is received in the at least one guide section.

8. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises a collar section circumferentially disposed around the speaker.

9. The speaker assembly according to claim 8, wherein said mounting element comprises at least two inner flanges projecting inwards from the collar section, wherein an outer rim the speaker is received between a first inner flange and a second inner flange.

10. The speaker assembly according to claim 8, wherein the mounting element comprises at least one annular outer flange projecting outwards from the collar section and sealingly engaging a sidewall section.

11. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein a cover comprises at least one projecting retainer element that form-fittingly engages the mounting element.

12. The speaker assembly according to the claim 11, wherein the mounting element is form-fittingly held between an end section and at least one retainer element.

13. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein the speaker has a circular shape and comprises at least one contact element in electrical contact with a connector element, wherein said contact element form-fittingly engages the mounting element to prevent rotation of the speaker with respect to the mounting element.

14. The speaker assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one conductive buffer element is disposed between a connector element and a conductor path of the base element.

15. A method for assembling a speaker assembly, comprising the following steps:

providing a base element having a surface which is at least partially electrically conductive, a cover element, a speaker, a rubber-elastic mounting element and at least one connector element;

assembling the cover element, at least one mounting element and the speaker to form a sub-assembly so that the speaker is at least partially received in a receiving section of the cover element and said mounting element is interposed between the speaker and the cover element for retaining the speaker in the receiving section; and

assembling the sub-assembly, the at least one connector element and the base element so that the speaker is disposed above the base element, the cover element at least partially covers the base element from above and the at least one connector element electrically connects the speaker with the base element and is preloaded between the speaker and the base element.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one connector element is a spring that is elastically deformed between the speaker and the base element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one connector element is a coil spring.

18. The method according claim 15, wherein said mounting element form-fittingly engages said speaker and the cover element.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the receiving section comprises a sidewall section, which is at least partially disposed laterally of the speaker, said sidewall section being closed at one end by an end section and open at another end towards the base element.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said mounting element comprises at least one guide section for guiding the at least one connector element, wherein the at least one guide section extends from a proximity of the speaker towards the base element.