Patent Publication Number: US-2023156384-A1

Title: Loudspeaker

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on and claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-185613 filed on Nov. 15, 2021. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a loudspeaker. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a loudspeaker is attached to a plate surface vertically erecting, a worker has to hold the loudspeaker in a predetermined position by one hand, and secure a screw by the other hand. Because of inefficiency of such work, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a technique of temporarily attaching a loudspeaker with a brimmed pin by inserting the pin into a through hole disposed on the plate surface to prevent drop of the loudspeaker from the plate surface, and then securing the pin. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-251696 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     However, the loudspeaker disclosed in PTL 1 can be improved upon. 
     In view of this, the present disclosure provides a loudspeaker capable of improving upon the above related art. 
     The loudspeaker according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a loudspeaker to be attached to an attachment member, the loudspeaker including a temporary joint pin which is inserted into a temporary joint hole provided in the attachment member and temporarily holds the loudspeaker in a suspended state. Here, the temporary joint pin includes a rod-like portion backwardly projecting from a rear end surface of a frame of the loudspeaker; a tilted surface portion which is part of a circumferential surface of the rod-like portion to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the temporary joint hole, and is tilted to become closer to a central axis of the rod-like portion from a base end of the rod-like portion toward a distal end of the rod-like portion in a direction of projection; and a flanged portion which is adjacent to the tilted surface portion at the distal end of the rod-like portion, protrudes in a direction crossing the direction of projection, and catches onto a rear surface of the attachment member. 
     The loudspeaker according to the present disclosure is capable of improving upon the above related art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specific embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the loudspeaker and the attachment member according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating the temporary joint pin according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the temporary joint pin taken along line I-I illustrated in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating the temporary joint pin inserted into the temporary joint hole in the attachment member when viewed from the rear of the attachment member. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating another example of the temporary joint pin inserted into the temporary joint hole in the attachment member when viewed from the rear of the attachment member. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, the loudspeaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment shown below is illustrative as examples to describe the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limitations to the present disclosure. For example, shapes, structures, materials, components, relatively positional relations, connection states, numeric values, expressions, contents of steps in methods, order of steps, and the like shown in the embodiment below are exemplary, and may contain contents not described below in some cases. When geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal are used, these expressions do not indicate mathematically strict meanings, and contain substantially allowable differences, deviations, and the like. Moreover, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also contain substantially allowable ranges. 
     The drawings are schematic illustrations appropriately subjected to emphasis, omission, or adjustment of ratios for describing the present disclosure, and are different from actual shapes, positional relations, and ratios. 
     Hereinafter, a plurality of aspects may be generally described as one embodiment. Part of the contents described below will be described as optional components related to the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view partially illustrating the loudspeaker and the attachment member according to an embodiment. Attachment member  200  is not particularly limited as long as it is a plate-like member to which loudspeaker  100  is to be attached, and can be made of any material. In the present embodiment, attachment member  200  is an inner wall of a vehicle door, and is made of a sheet metal. Attachment member  200  includes temporary joint hole  210  which is a through hole to which loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached, fixing hole  220  to which loudspeaker  100  is secured, and insertion hole  230  into which loudspeaker  100  attached is partially inserted. 
     Loudspeaker  100  is loudspeaker  100  to be attached to attachment member  200 , and includes frame  110  and temporary joint pin  120 . In the present embodiment, loudspeaker  100  is designed to be attached to erecting plate-like attachment member  200 , and includes securing hole  130  and sealing member  140 . Although loudspeaker  100  includes a magnetic circuit, a voice coil, a vibration plate, and the like which are standard components for generating sounds, the description thereof will be omitted. In this specification and CLAIMS, the side on which the vibration plate is disposed (the side from which sounds are radiated) is defined as front and the side on which a magnetic circuit is disposed is defined as rear. 
     Frame  110  is a member which holds a magnetic circuit and a vibration plate and serves as a structural base for loudspeaker  100 . Examples of the shape of frame  110  include, but should not be limited to, a cylindrical shape and a prismatic shape. In the present embodiment, frame  110  is approximately cylindrical. Frame  110  can be made of any material. In the present embodiment, a resin is used. Frame  110  is formed by injection molding. 
     Temporary joint pin  120  is inserted into temporary joint hole  210  provided in attachment member  200 , and temporarily holds loudspeaker  100  in a suspended state. In the present embodiment, temporary joint pin  120  is made of a resin, and is integrally formed with frame  110 . 
       FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating the temporary joint pin. Temporary joint pin  120  includes rod-like portion  121 , tilted surface portion  122 , and flanged portion  123 . In the present embodiment, temporary joint pin  120  includes conical portion  124 , notch  125 , tapered portion  126 , and reinforcing portion  127 . 
     Rod-like portion  121  backwardly projects from the rear end surface of frame  110 , namely, projects in a direction allowing insertion into temporary joint hole  210  when loudspeaker  100  is attached to attachment member  200 , and serves as a structural base for temporary joint pin  120 . Rod-like portion  121  can be in any shape. In the present embodiment, rod-like portion  121  is cylindrical, and includes reinforcing portion  127  having a cross-sectional area orthogonal in the direction of projection, the cross-sectional area increasing toward a portion of the base end connected to the rear end surface of the frame. 
     Tilted surface portion  122  is part of the circumferential surface of rod-like portion  121  to be brought into contact with the inner circumferential surface of temporary joint hole  210 , and is a surface tilted to become closer to central axis  129  of rod-like portion  121  from the base end side (frame side) toward the distal end side in the direction of projection (X+ direction in  FIG.  2   ). 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the temporary joint pin taken alone line I-I shown in  FIG.  2   . In the present embodiment, tilted surface portion  122  is configured with a curved surface disposed on an inner side with respect to virtual outer circumferential surface  128 , which is a virtually extended outer circumferential surface of rod-like portion  121 . Tilted surface portion  122  is disposed to face the inner side of loudspeaker  100 , and to be brought into contact with the inner circumference of temporary joint hole  210  when loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached and suspended. This state is established at least from flanged portion  123  to a region near the base end of flanged portion  123 . Such a configuration can increase the region of flanged portion  123  which catches onto attachment member  200  when loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached to attachment member  200 . Tilted surface portion  122  may be a flat surface. 
     Flanged portion  123  is a portion which is adjacent to tilted surface portion  122  at the distal end of rod-like portion  121 , protrudes in a direction crossing the direction of projection (X-axial direction in the drawing), and catches onto the rear surface of attachment member  200 . In the present embodiment, flanged portion  123  is part of an annular portion having a rectangular cross-section with a notch corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 , and is disposed on both sides of tilted surface portion  122  in the circumferential direction. The interval between two flanged portions  123  is preferably less than 180 degrees with respect to central axis  129  of rod-like portion  121  as the center. When the interval is greater than or equal to 180 degrees, the amount of flanged portion  123  to catch onto attachment member  200  is significantly reduced, leading to difficulties in temporary attachment. The interval is preferably selected from the range of 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less. Flanged portion  123  having an interval of less than 60 degrees results in a significantly complicated structure of a metal mold used to integrally form frame  110  and temporary joint pin  120  by injection molding. Flanged portion  123  having an interval of greater than 90 degrees reduces the amount of flanged portion  123  to catch onto attachment member  200 , increasing a risk of releasing the temporary attachment when loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached to attachment member  200 . 
     Conical portion  124  includes a bottom surface including flanged portion  123  as part thereof, is tapered in the direction of projection, and includes notch  125  corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 . In the present embodiment, flanged portion  123  is in an annular shape partially notched, and conical portion  124  is in a shape of a truncated cone. Conical portion  124  can facilitate insertion of temporary joint pin  120  into temporary joint hole  210  during temporary attachment. Moreover, notch  125  (corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 ) disposed in conical portion  124  can ensure continuity of tilted surface portion  122  in the direction of projection, and can improve the releasing properties of the metal mold during injection molding. 
     Tapered portion  126  is a portion disposed to become closer to rod-like portion  121  from flanged portion  123  toward the base end, and includes a notch corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 . Such a configuration can prevent damage of temporary joint pin  120  and attachment member  200 , which is caused by flanged portion  123  caught by attachment member  200  when loudspeaker  100  is removed from attachment member  200 . This facilitates the removal of loudspeaker  100  from attachment member  200 , and enables temporary reattachment of loudspeaker  100 . 
     In the present embodiment, loudspeaker  100  includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) temporary joint pins  120  arranged symmetric with respect to a plane. For example, when one loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached to any one of left and right doors of a vehicle, such a configuration enables temporary attachment using one of temporary joint pins  120 . By inserting the plurality of temporary joint pins  120  into their corresponding temporary joint holes  210 , a function to position securing hole  130  with respect to fixing hole  220  provided in attachment member  200  can be demonstrated, and a task of attaching loudspeaker  100  can be easily performed. Desirably, the symmetric plane for the plurality of temporary joint pins  120  passes through the winding axis of the voice coil. In such a configuration, when loudspeaker  100  is temporarily attached to one of the left and right doors, the weight can be balanced to some extent between the left and right doors. Moreover, sounds can be symmetrically radiated from loudspeakers  100  attached to left and right doors. 
     Securing hole  130  is a through hole used in main attachment of loudspeaker  100  to attachment member  200  by inserting and securing member  240  or the like. In the present embodiment, a plurality of securing holes  130  are provided symmetric with respect to the symmetric plane for the plurality of temporary joint pins  120 . In such a configuration, loudspeakers  100  identical in shape can be attached to the left and right doors. 
     Sealing member  140  is an annular member which is disposed between loudspeaker  100  after the main attachment and attachment member  200  and seals the gap between the rear end surface of frame  110  and attachment member  200 . Sealing member  140  demonstrates the sealing function in the state where sealing member  140  is compressed by a clamping force of securing member  240 . The thickness of sealing member  140  in a non-compressed state is set to be substantially identical to or smaller than the distance from the rear end surface of the frame to flanged portion  123 . Such a configuration can prevent temporary joint pin  120  from coming off from temporary joint hole  210  by the elastic force of sealing member  140  during the temporary attachment. 
     In loudspeaker  100  according to the present embodiment, workability can be improved because in the temporary attachment task, temporary joint pin  120  can be inserted into temporary joint hole  210  in attachment member  200  without forcing it into temporary joint hole  210 . Temporary joint pin  120  does not interfere with temporary joint hole  210 , and thus the securing force in the main attachment is not negatively affected. Thus, rise of frame  110  from attachment member  200  and leakage of water caused by insufficient compression of sealing member  140  can be prevented. 
     Flanged portion  123  protruding from rod-like portion  121  is not present in the portion corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 . For this reason, the metal mold used for injection molding of frame  110  can be simplified, and as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , flanged portion  123  can sufficiently catch onto attachment member  200  in the state where temporary joint pin  120  is inserted into temporary joint hole  210  to suspend loudspeaker  100 . 
     Because temporary joint pin  120  has a size to be loose fitted into temporary joint hole  210 , a wide range of fluctuation in size caused in attachment member  200  can be allowed. Furthermore, because temporary joint hole  210  into which temporary joint pin  120  in the related art is press fitted for positioning can be used, loudspeaker  100  can be attached to existing attachment member  200  without changing the structure of existing attachment member  200 . 
     It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, another embodiment implemented by optionally combining the components described in this specification or by removing some of the components may be an embodiment according to the present disclosure. The present disclosure also covers modifications obtained by subjecting the above embodiment to a variety of modifications conceived by persons skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present disclosure, that is, the meanings represented by expressions in CLAIMS. 
     For example, although loudspeaker  100  including two temporary joint pins  120  has been exemplified in the embodiment, the number of temporary joint pins  120  may be one or may be three or more. 
     Moreover, flanged portion  123  may be not only in an annular shape including a notch corresponding to tilted surface portion  122 , but also in a shape such that a portion not catching onto attachment member  200  in the temporarily attached state is not present. For example, flanged portion  123  may include a notch at least partially including a region of tilted surface portion  122  rotationally symmetric with respect to central axis  129  as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
     Moreover, although a case where loudspeaker  100  is attached to attachment member  200  disposed within a vertical plane has been described, loudspeaker  100  may be attached to attachment member  200 , which is erected while being tilted. 
     While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as presently or hereafter claimed. 
     Further Information about Technical Background to this Application 
     The disclosure of the following patent application including specification, drawings, and claims are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-185613 filed on Nov. 15, 2021. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure can be used in loudspeakers.