External attachments for speakers in seats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016381445-A1
Application number	US-201615197079-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The technology described in this document is embodied in a speaker grill configured to be attached to a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat. The speaker grill includes a base that includes perforations to allow acoustic energy from the speakers to pass through the grill, a sidewall extending from the base such that the sidewall and the base define a cavity, and a structural feature configured to allow the speaker grill to be to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat. The speaker grill is attached in an acoustic path of the speaker system, and is removable from the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat following attachment.

First claim

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . An apparatus configured to be attached to a speaker system disposed in a portion of a vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:
a speaker cover comprising a perforated surface configured to pass acoustic energy from the speaker system, and a sidewall extending from the perforated surface; and a structural feature configured to allow the speaker cover to be to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat, and to be removed from the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat following attachment, the substantially rigid portion comprising a connector disposed in an acoustic channel of the speaker system, the connector being attached to an acoustic enclosure of the speaker system.

22 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the sidewall is curved such that the sidewall forms a beveled edge.

23 . The speaker cover of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the beveled edge overlaps an external layer of the vehicle seat when the speaker cover is attached to the substantially rigid portion.

24 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: expanded resin, metal, and plastic.

25 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a frame of the seat.

26 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the portion of the vehicle seat comprises a headrest.

27 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the structural feature is disposed on the sidewall.

28 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the structural feature comprises a recessed portion configured to attach in a mating configuration with a projected portion in the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat.

29 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein the structural feature comprises a projected portion configured to attach in a mating configuration with a recessed portion in the substantially rigid portion of the vehicle seat.

30 . The speaker cover of claim 21 , wherein a portion of the sidewall overlaps with an external layer of the vehicle seat when the speaker cover is attached to the substantially rigid portion.

31 . A seat headrest comprising:
a housing arranged to support at least a portion of the head of a user, the housing comprising at least one speaker and an acoustic enclosure, and configured to support an acoustic channel for radiating acoustic energy from the speaker; and a speaker cover configured to be attached to the housing, the speaker cover comprising:
a perforated surface configured to pass the acoustic energy from the acoustic channel to an exterior of the headrest,
a sidewall extending from the perforated surface, and
a structural feature configured to allow the speaker cover to be attached to a substantially rigid portion of the housing, and to be removed from the substantially rigid portion of the housing following attachment, the substantially rigid portion comprising a connector disposed in the acoustic channel, the connector being attached to an acoustic enclosure of the speaker.

32 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: expanded resin, metal, and plastic.

33 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises a first frame portion disposed on one side of the housing, and a second frame portion disposed on another, opposing side of the housing.

34 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the substantially rigid portion comprises an acoustic channel disposed in the housing.

35 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the sidewall overlaps an external layer of the headrest when the speaker cover is attached to the substantially rigid portion.

36 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the structural feature is disposed on the sidewall.

37 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the structural feature comprises a recessed portion configured to attach in a mating configuration with a projected portion in the substantially rigid portion of the housing.

38 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein the structural feature comprises a projected portion configured to attach in a mating configuration with a recessed portion in the substantially rigid portion of the headrest.

39 . The headrest of claim 31 , wherein a portion of the sidewall overlaps with an external layer of the headrest when the speaker cover is attached to the substantially rigid portion of the housing.

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Subat Bradford Kyle
• Oswald Charles
• Barksdale Tobe Z
• Meeker David N

Classifications

• H04R1/023

  Screens for loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R5/02

  Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• B60N2/879

  with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers · CPC title

• B60R11/0217 Primary

  for loud-speakers · CPC title