Patent Publication Number: US-6711275-B2

Title: Combined speaker/dome lamp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally pertains to speakers and interior lighting systems for automotive vehicles. More particularly, the invention concerns combined speakers/dome light units for mounting to roll bars on vehicles equipped therewith. 
     Vehicles with roll bars, such as off-road convertible vehicles with hard or soft covers, are now being equipped with more and more luxury or convenience accessories, such as stereo sound systems and enhanced interior lighting. Such vehicles typically have fewer locations for mounting such accessories than the typical sedans or sport utility vehicles in the automotive industry. 
     This invention addresses the problem of secure and convenient mounting locations for a combination dome lamp and speaker housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a combination speaker and dome lamp adapted to be mounted to a roll bar of an automotive vehicle comprises a housing having forward, side and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface mounting a cover for the speaker and a cover for the dome lamp, the side surface terminating in a flange portion having fastener receiving holes adapted to overlie mating holes in a side mounting surface of the vehicle, and the forward surface having a protrusion extending therefrom and adapted to engage an opening in the roll bar of the vehicle. The housing is adapted for coupling to the roll bar by first inserting the protrusion into the roll bar opening and then fastening the flange portion to the side mounting surface via the fastener holes. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a combination speaker and dome lamp is adapted for mounting substantially at an intersection of a roll bar extending transversely of a vehicle chassis and a side bar extending longitudinally of the chassis. A housing having forward, side and bottom surfaces uses the bottom surface for mounting a cover for the speaker contained within the housing and a cover for the dome lamp contained within the housing. The side surface terminates in a flange portion having fastener receiving holes adapted to overlie mating holes in the side bar. The forward surface has a protrusion extending therefrom adapted to engage an elongated opening or slot in the roll bar. The housing is adapted to be coupled substantially at the intersection of the roll bar and the side bar by first inserting the protrusion into the elongated opening, sliding the protrusion along the opening until the receiving holes in the body flange portion overlie the mating holes in the side bar, and inserting fasteners through the receiving and mating holes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of a detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from below and rearwardly of a combined speaker and dome light housing arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1 facing rearwardly of the vehicle the housing of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a combination speaker and dome lamp assembly is enclosed in a plastic, blow-molded housing  100 . Housing  100  is designed to fit on the roll bar  106  of an automotive vehicle equipped with such apparatus. 
     Housing  100  is adapted to be coupled substantially at the intersection of the vehicle&#39;s side bar  110  and roll bar  106  which extends past the intersection downwardly as the B-pillar  107  of the vehicle. 
     Side bar  110  extends substantially longitudinally of the vehicle from a windshield frame  108  rearwardly, while roll bar  106  extends substantially transversely of the vehicle chassis to another side bar, not shown at an opposite side of the chassis. 
     Housing  100  has a forward surface  190 , a bottom surface  170  and a side surface  180 . Forward surface  190  includes a protrusion  303  which extends therefrom for engagement with a slot or elongated opening  301  in roll bar  106 . Protrusion  303  could, for example, comprise a removable threaded bolt threadingly coupled to the housing  100  at one end and extending outwardly from front surface  190 . 
     Bottom surface  170  provides the mounting surface for dome lamp cover  104  and speaker cover  102 . While only one housing  100  is shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that in a conventional stereo sound system arrangement, identical housings  100  would be mounted at opposite sides of the vehicle at the respective intersections of the side bars with the roll bar  106 . 
     Housing  100  additionally includes a side surface  180  which terminates in a flange portion  101 . Flange  101  includes openings  201   a  and  201   b  for receipt of appropriate fastening elements, such as threaded bolts, which, in turn, are positioned to engage mating holes in side bar  110  underlying holes  201   a  and  201   b  in flange portion  101 . 
     A depression or cup  305  is also formed in the forward surface  190  for mounting a connector for mating engagement with a plug extending from and opening (not shown) in roll bar  106  for appropriate electrical connections from the vehicle&#39;s electrical supply and/or sound communication wiring systems. 
     With the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1-3, housing  101  provides for stereo sound, light, and rear occupant head impact protection at substantial cost and weight savings. The slide-in protrusion feature eliminates the need for a bolt or screw-type fastener between housing  100  and roll bar  106  and therefore greatly speeds up and simplifies assembly line installation of housing  100 . 
     Protrusion  301  may optionally be provided with an encircling sheath fashioned from a suitable plastic material to minimize objectionable rattling noises that would otherwise possibly be created by the metal protrusion  303  moving against a periphery of opening  301  in roll bar  106  as the vehicle is in motion. Alternatively, protrusion  303  could be fashioned entirely of a sound-deadening material. Indeed, protrusion  303  could be an integral extension of molded housing  100 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to an embodiment set forth for the purposes of example only. The scope and spirit of the invention is to be derived from an appropriate interpretation of the appended claims.