Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns speaker cover grilles for automotive interior trim applications. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A speaker grille construction involving a pierced metal panel has been heretofore described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,698 issued to the assignee of the present patent application on Dec. 4, 1990 for a &#34;Speaker Cover Grille Installation&#34;. 
     As described in that patent, an expanded or perforated pierced metal cover panel has aesthetic appeal over plastic or cloth cover material and allows better sound transmission. 
     However, since the pierced metal cover must be constructed of mild sheet steel, conventional installation required either separate fasteners or solid spring steel tabs, or a plastic frame, substantially increasing costs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,698 describes an advantageous integral tab geometry formed into the pierced metal material itself which allows snap fitting of the cover to a trim panel without the use of spring steel tabs or separate fasteners. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide another form of the snap-fitted cover edge shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,698 which will provide a secure snap fitting assembly of the cover to the inner periphery of a trim panel defining the speaker opening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This and other objects of the present invention which will be appreciated by a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a speaker cover grille having a series of tabs distributed about the perimeter of the pierced metal speaker cover grille, which are integrally formed from the pierced metal material. 
     The tabs extend rearwardly from the formed over rim and are each provided with a pair of radially outwardly projecting ears. The ears each have an angled entry side edge which create a cam action deflecting the tabs as they are inserted into a respective one of a series of slots in the speaker housing, each aligned with a respective tab. 
     The return side edge behind each angled entry side locks behind the trim piece thickness adjacent the associated slot to secure the cover grille in place. 
     The return side edges may also be angled to facilitate removal of the cover grille. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a speaker grille installation according to the inventor with the adjacent trim piece portions shown in fragmentary form. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the speaker grille shown in FIG. 1 partially assembled to the trim piece, shown in fragmentary form. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the speaker grille shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the details of a latching tabs and indicating the mating slot in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 3A is a side elevational enlarged view of a tab ear portion showing the angled entrant and return side edges for installation and removal. 
     FIG. 3B is a side elevational enlarged view of a modified form of the ear portion of a latching tab. 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the transverse section through the speaker grille installation shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 4--4. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the latching tab showing the tab ear engagement with the slot perimeter edge. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a locating tab and its engagement with the trim piece. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a speaker cover grille installation 10 is shown, in which a formed metal cover grille 12 is secured over a speaker opening 14 forming a trim piece, here comprised of a door panel 16. A speaker assembly 18 is mounted so as to allow sound waves to emanate through the speaker housing opening 14 and the holes through the speaker cover grille 12. 
     The speaker cover grille 12 is formed of sheet metal material which has been pierced as by being perforated by or expanded by a punching or forming operation to form a pattern of openings extending completely across the area of the cover grille 12. An open area defined by the pierced holes is thus provided, allowing the transmission of sound therethrough. Cold rolled low carbon sheet steel is required to allow the formation of openings therein since spring steel cannot easily be formed with small diameter holes. For minimum distortion, 40-50% open area should be provided, 43% having been found to be optimal for transmitting the speaker sounds therethrough. 
     The cover grill 12 is comprised of a generally planar main area 24 having a turned edge 26 extending around the perimeter thereof presenting a smooth, substantial appearance. The trim piece 16 is formed with a recess 17 defining the speaker opening 14 into which is interfit the turned edge 26 of the speaker cover grille 12 which has a terminus 42 abutting a surface 36 defined by the recess 17 when the speaker cover grille 12 is installed therein. 
     According to the concept of the present invention, one or more integral tabs 28 are distributed in a series along the turned edge 26, with a single locating hinge tab 50 also provided integral with the turned edge 26. Each tab 28 comprises a rearward extension of the turned edge 24. 
     Each tab 28 includes an inwardly extending planar extension section 32 being generally perpendicular to the central section 26 so as to extend inwardly beyond the turned edge 26 so as to pass through a respective one of a series of slots 34 formed in a planar surface 36 of the trim piece 16 against which the turned edge 26 abuts. 
     Each tab 28 is formed with a pair of triangularly shaped ears 38, comprised of integral portions folded outwardly from respective side of the tab to project radially from the planar portion 32. 
     The tabs 28 are each able to undergo considerable deflection inwardly while remaining within the yieldable limits of the cover material by the presence of the planar extension section 32, which length adds to the length of the section holding the ears 38, 40. 
     The locating tab 30 is initially seated in one of the slots 34 at installation, and the cover grille 12 hinged thereabout to bring the tabs 28 into respective engagement with the remaining slots 34. 
     The locating tab 30 thus serves to correctly position the cover grille 12 to be aligned over the opening 14 for proper engagement of the tabs 28. 
     At least one tab 28 is provided opposite a single locating tab 30. Additional gripper tabs 28 are formed distributed in a series about the cover perimeter to increase the retention force acting on the installed cover grille 12. 
     Since the tabs 28 and 30 are integrally formed of the material of the cover grille 12, the proper deflection resistance will depend on the bendability of that material. It is important to avoid bending beyond the yield point of the material to insure adequate retention forces. The bendability of perforate or expanded sheet metal .material will of course depend on its thickness and the geometry of the hole pattern. 
     The ears 38 and 40 are spaced below the terminus 42 of the turned edge 26 (FIG. 3) a distance on the planar section 32 so as to allow the ears 38, 40 to pass through the respective slot 34. 
     Each ear 38, 40 is formed with an inclined entry side edge 44 (FIG. 3A) which projects radially sufficiently to engage the side of the slot 34 as the speaker grille cover 12 is moved down towards the surface 36 of the trim piece 16 at assembly. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the upward inclination of the entry side edge causes a camming action radially deflecting the planar extension portion 32 of the associated tab 28 as the ears 38, 40 move past the outer edge of the slot 34. As the ears 38, 40 move past the thickness of the trim piece material defining the slot 34, the tab planar portion 32 can again straighten, causing return side edge 48 on each ear to engage the slot edge. The abutment of the terminus 42 results in a gripping of the trim piece material by the ear return side edge 48 engagement. 
     Thus, a secure mounting of the cover grille 12 to the trim piece 16 is achieved. 
     The length of the tabs 28 should be sufficient so that a relatively slight local deflection occurs along its length to avoid substantial yielding of the mild steel material. 
     The speaker cover grille 12 is nested into the recess 17 of the trim piece 16. 
     The return side edge 48 is preferably also angled to assist in disassembly and to insure latching engagement with the edge of the slot 34. 
     However, as shown in FIG. 3B, the return side edge 48A may be only slightly angled or not angled at all.

Technology Category: 5