Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for the diffusion of sound, particularly for the diffusion of music, and to a method for the realization of the device itself

Background Art

Several devices for the diffusion of sound are known, such as stereo, Hi-Fi systems or the like, which may have different technical specifications as well as several overall dimensions.

The systems for the diffusion of sound known today are made using components specially designed for this purpose, in order to optimize the quality of sound and therefore to play high fidelity music.

Such systems of known type are generally composed of a supporting structure, one or more loudspeakers, a source unit of the sound and connection means for connecting the source unit to the loudspeakers.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide an acoustic device that involves the use of discharge collectors of motor vehicles as an active and functional part for the diffusion of sound, while ensuring at the same time high quality of the same.

Within this aim, one object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for the diffusion of sound involving the use of discharge collectors arising from motor vehicles and at the same time allowing to diffuse sound harmoniously.

The present invention therefore proposes to make the discharge collectors arising from motor vehicles, made of different materials from those generally used for acoustic devices, such as plastic, wood, MDF, etc ... suitable for the diffusion of sound.

One object of the present invention is to optimize the quality of the sound delivered, both at high and low frequencies.

Yet another object is to provide a device for the diffusion of sound that, besides being functionally efficient, has innovative features aimed at raising the aesthetic perception of the model, so as to be more attractive and appealing for the users.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present device for the diffusion of sound according to claim 1 and by the present method for the realization of a device for the diffusion of sound according to claim 7.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for the diffusion of sound, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non- limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, in section, of a detail of the discharge collector of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view, in section, of a detail of the supporting element of the device of Figure 1.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such figures, globally indicated with reference number 1 is a device for the diffusion of sound, particularly for the diffusion of music.

The device 1 comprises a supporting structure 2, which defines a resting plane for the positioning of the device itself on a holding surface, associable with a source unit 3 of the sound.

More particularly, in the embodiment shown in figure 1, the supporting structure 2 has connection means to an external source unit 3, such as an electronic device adapted to contain music or sound files, e.g. the type of a phone, a smart phone or a music player.

The connection means may be the type of a connector associable with a removable source unit 3 or they may be of the Wi-Fi type for the wireless connection to a source unit 3 that may be arranged also at a distance from the device 1.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the source unit 3 may be of the integrated type, and therefore locked together with the supporting structure 2, such as a CD/MP3 player.

The device 1 also comprises diffusion means 4 of the sound, associated with the supporting structure 2, and connection means, not shown in detail in the illustrations, of the source unit 3 to the diffusion means themselves.

More in detail, the connection means are of the electric type and are adapted to transfer the electric signal delivered from the source unit 3 to the diffusion means 4, which as is known are adapted to convert such electric signal into sound.

According to the invention, the diffusion means 4 of the sound comprise a discharge collector 5 locked together with the supporting structure 2 and which defines at least a hollow channel 6 having at least a front opening 7 facing outwards and adapted to house at least a loudspeaker 13, and at least a rear opening 9 which is free for the output of the sound generated by the loudspeaker itself.

By the term "free" referred to the rear opening 9 is meant that the latter is of the through type and therefore free of any obstacle that may hinder the passage of the sound waves passing through the hollow channel 6.

According to the invention, furthermore, at least a portion of the hollow channel 6 has a silica-based surface coating 11, adapted to facilitate the smoothness of sound waves.

Preferably, such surface coating 11 is of the self-leveling nanostructured silica- based type, which crosslinks in a sol-gel process with the moisture present in the air.

By the term "nanostructured" is meant a modified structure at the molecular level, while by the term "self-leveling" is meant the property of positioning on a laying substrate.

The surface coating 11 thus formed, with a thickness of a few microns, allows to significantly reduce the friction coefficient of the hollow channel 6, as it reduces its internal roughness, consequently facilitating smoothness of fluxes. Advantageously, the device 1 comprises at least a closing element 12 fitted within the hollow channel 6, therefore interposed between the front opening 7 and the rear opening 9, and having at least a calibrated hole 12a for the passage of the sound waves towards the rear opening itself.

By adjusting the diameter of the hole 12a it is possible to optimize the quality of the sound delivered by the device 1.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the discharge collector 5 has a plurality of hollow channels 6 which have respective sections separate from one another, identified with the reference number 6a and each of which defines a respective front opening 7, and a common section 6b, which defines the only rear opening 9.

More particularly, the discharge collector 5 has a union 8 that defines the common section 6b of the hollow channels 6 and the rear opening 9.

In the particular embodiment of Figure 1, the above-mentioned surface coating affects at least one of the separate sections 6a and the common section 6b.

Preferably, the silica-based surface coating according to the invention affects the hollow channels 6 for their entire extension.

In the embodiment shown, the closing element 12 is preferably positioned along the common section 6b defined by the union 8.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the front openings 7 (identified in Figure 1) are substantially aligned to one another and the further opening 9 is arranged at a higher level with respect to the front openings themselves, although geometries of a different type cannot be ruled out.

Conveniently, the diffusion means 4 also comprise at least a supporting element 10 associated with the discharge collector 5 in correspondence of the front opening 7 and defining a housing seat within which a loudspeaker 13 is fitted. Advantageously, the supporting element 10 is made of a material comprising aluminum, such as an aluminum alloy.

Preferably, the surfaces of the supporting element 10 that define the housing seat of the respective loudspeaker 13 and which are communicating with the hollow channel 6 are coated by a protective layer 14 comprising a layer of aluminum oxide (A12O3) and silver molecules, identified in Figure 3 with the reference numbers 14a and 14b, respectively.

More in detail, the silver molecules 14b are inserted within the porosity of the layer of aluminum oxide 14a, this is done by means of the method of treatment described later in the present description.

In a preferred embodiment, also the surfaces of the supporting element 10 have the above mentioned protective layer 14 and comprising aluminum oxide and silver molecules.

The protective layer 14 defines a substantially homogeneous surface, i.e. without interruption, so as to improve the smoothness of sound waves.

In the embodiment represented in the figures, the diffusion means 4 comprise a plurality of loudspeakers 13, each of which is inserted within a respective supporting element 10 in turn arranged in correspondence of a respective front opening 7.

Preferably, each supporting element 10 has the protective layer 14 both on the surfaces defining the housing seat of the relevant loudspeaker 13 and on the surfaces facing outwards.

The method according to the invention is described below for the realization of a device for the diffusion of sound according to described above.

The method making the subject of the present invention provides first of all the necessary components for obtaining the device 1 for the diffusion of sound according to what is described above.

More particularly, the supporting structure 2, associable with the source unit 3 of the sound, the diffusion means 4 of the sound, the connection means between the source unit 3 and the diffusion means 4, the discharge collector 5 and at least a loudspeaker 13 are provided.

Preferably at least a supporting element 10 is also provided intended to be associated with the discharge collector 5 and adapted to support the loudspeaker 13.

The method making the subject of the present invention comprises a coating step of at least a portion of the hollow channel 6 defined by the discharge collector 5 by means of a silica-based substance, so as to define the surface coating 11 adapted to reduce the friction coefficient of the hollow channel itself and thus facilitate the passage of the sound waves through it.

This coating step is performed through at least a technique selected from the group comprising: painting, spin-coating, dip-coating, spray coating and electrophoresis.

Advantageously, a step of hard anodic oxidation is also performed at least of the surfaces of each supporting element 10 which define the housing seat of the respective loudspeaker 13.

Preferably, also the surfaces of the supporting element 10 facing outwards undergo a step of hard anodic oxidation.

Following this application, a layer of aluminum oxide (A12O3) 14a is formed on the treated surfaces.

The surfaces treated through anodic oxidation undergo a step of galvanic treatment with silver molecules 14b, in particular Ag+ ions, adapted to seal the pores present in the layer of aluminum oxide 14a defined by means of the step of anodic oxidation described above.

More in detail, following the step of galvanic treatment, the Ag+ ions are inserted within the porosities on the layer of aluminum oxide 14a going to define a protective layer 14 substantially homogeneous and without interruption and adapted to speed up the output of sound waves from the corresponding loudspeaker 13.

In practice it has been observed how the described invention achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the device making the subject of the present invention allows to reduce the friction that sound waves meet during their path thereby improving the harmony perceived and leading to an attenuation of all frequencies.

In particular, the presence of the silica-based coating applied on the inside of the hollow body defined by the discharge collector allows to make significantly smoother the passage of the sound waves inside the collector itself.

Similarly, also the protective layer based on aluminum oxide and silver molecules applied on the supporting element allows to improve the smoothness of fluxes.