Patent Application
20240331676
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-055992 filed on Mar. 30, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a soundproofing cover.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-169191 discloses a soundproofing cover that includes a cover body and a sound absorber.
The cover body is configured to be opened and closed. The cover body covers an attaching target in a closed state. The sound absorber is disposed inside the cover body. The sound absorber is elastically deformable. The soundproofing cover includes an engaging member and an engaged member. The engaging member is provided in the cover body. The engaged member is provided in the cover body. The engaging member is configured to be engaged with the engaged member. Engaging the engaging member with the engaged member maintains the cover body in the closed state.
In this soundproofing cover, in engaging the engaging member with the engaged member, a force toward the inside of the cover body may be applied from the engaging member to the engaged member. In this case, a portion of the cover body where the engaged member is formed may be displaced toward the inside of the cover body due to the crushing of the sound absorber. If the portion of the cover body where the engaged member is formed is displaced toward the inside of the cover body, it may become difficult to engage the engaging member with the engaged member.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a soundproofing cover including a cover body configured to be opened and closed, and covering an attaching target when the cover body is in a closed state, a sound absorber disposed inside the cover body, and being elastically deformable, an engaging member formed in the cover body, and an engaged member formed in the cover body, and with which the engaging member is to be engaged, the cover body being maintained in the closed state with the engaged member engaged with the engaging member. The soundproofing cover includes a restricting protrusion that protrudes inward from an inner surface of the cover body and restricts displacement of a portion of the cover body where the engaged member is formed toward an inside of the cover body with the restricting protrusion placed in contact with the attaching target in engaging the engaging member with the engaged member
The disclosure, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:
The following will describe a soundproofing cover according to an embodiment with reference to
As illustrated in
The cover body 13 is configured to be opened and closed. For example, synthetic resins such as polypropylene, polyamide, ABS resin, and olefin elastomer may be used as material for the cover body 13. The cover body 13 is made of material with excellent sound insulation properties. The cover body 13 has flexibility.
The cover body 13 includes a first cover forming member 15, a second cover forming member 16, and a hinge 17. The first cover forming member 15 has a semicylindrical shape. The first cover forming member 15 has a pair of first end walls 18 each having a semicircular disk shape and a first peripheral wall 19 having a semicylindrical shape. The first peripheral wall 19 connects the pair of first end walls 18 to each other. A first accommodation recess 20 is defined by the first peripheral wall 19 and the pair of first end walls 18. The edges of the first peripheral wall 19 and the edges of the first end walls 18 form a first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15. The first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15 forms an opening of the first accommodation recess 20. The first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15 is a cover edge that corresponds to the opening edge of the cover body 13 when the cover body 13 is in an opened state. Thus, the cover body 13 has the first opening edge 21 corresponding to the cover edge.
When the cover body 13 is in the closed state, the first accommodation recess 20 accommodates a portion of the housing 12 of the compressor 11. The first cover forming member 15 is disposed relative to the housing 12 of the compressor 11 such that the first peripheral wall 19 covers a portion of the peripheral wall 12a of the housing 12 of the compressor 11, and the first end walls 18 covers portions of end walls 12b of the housing 12. The first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15 extends along a circumferential direction of the housing 12 of the compressor 11.
A second cover forming member 16 has a semicylindrical shape. The second cover forming member 16 has a pair of second end walls 22 each having a semicircular disk shape and a second peripheral wall 23 having a semicylindrical shape. The second peripheral wall 23 connects the pair of second end walls 22 to each other. A second accommodation recess 24 is defined by the second peripheral wall 23 and the pair of second end walls 22. The edges of the second peripheral wall 23 and the edges of the second end walls 22 form a second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16. The second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16 forms an opening of the second accommodation recess 24. The second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16 is a cover edge that corresponds to the opening edge of the cover body 13 when the cover body 13 is opened. Thus, the cover body 13 has the second opening edge 25 corresponding to the cover edge.
When the cover body 13 is in the closed state, the second accommodation recess 24 accommodates a remaining portion of the housing 12 of the compressor 11 that is not accommodated by the first accommodation recess 20. The second cover forming member 16 is disposed relative to the housing 12 of the compressor 11 such that the second peripheral wall 23 covers a remaining portion of the peripheral wall 12a of the housing 12 of the compressor 11 that is not covered by the first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15. Thus, the second peripheral wall 23 of the second cover forming member 16 extends along the circumferential direction of the housing 12 of the compressor 11. The second cover forming member 16 is disposed relative to the housing 12 of the compressor 11 such that the second end walls 22 cover remaining portions of the end walls 12b of the housing 12 that are not covered by the first end walls 18 of the first cover forming member 15.
The hinge 17 connects the first cover forming member 15 and the second cover forming member 16. The hinge 17 connects one of the edges of the first peripheral wall 19 and one of the edges of the second peripheral wall 23. The hinge 17 is an integral hinge that is formed integrally with the first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15 and the second peripheral wall 23 of the second cover forming member 16. Therefore, the hinge 17 is made of material the same as that of the cover body 13.
The hinge 17 is configured to allow the first cover forming member 15 and the second cover forming member 16 to rotate in directions in which the first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15 and the second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16 approach and separate from each other with the hinge 17 as a rotation center. The cover body 13 is brought into the closed state when the first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15 and the second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16 abut against each other. The cover body 13 covers the compressor 11 when the cover body 13 is in the closed state.
The sound absorber 14 is disposed inside the cover body 13. Thus, the sound absorber 14 is a part that is disposed inside the cover body 13. The sound absorber 14 is disposed between the cover body 13 and the housing 12 of the compressor 11. The sound absorber 14 is configured to cover the housing 12 of the compressor 11 entirely. Examples of material of the sound absorber 14 include urethane and nonwoven fabric. The sound absorber 14 is made of material with excellent sound absorbing properties. The sound absorber 14 is elastically deformable.
The sound absorber 14 includes a first sound absorber forming member 26 and a second sound absorber forming member 27. The first sound absorber forming member 26 has a semicylindrical shape. The first sound absorber forming member 26 has a pair of first end walls 28 each having a semicircular disk shape and a first peripheral wall 29 having a semicylindrical shape. The first peripheral wall 29 connects the pair of first end walls 28 to each other. The first sound absorber forming member 26 is disposed inside the first cover forming member 15.
The first end walls 28 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 extend along their associated inner surfaces of the first end walls 18 of the first cover forming member 15. The first end walls 28 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 cover their associated inner surfaces of the first end walls 18 of the first cover forming member 15 entirely. The first end walls 28 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 are in close contact with their associated inner surfaces of the first end walls 18 of the first cover forming member 15. The first peripheral wall 29 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 extends along an inner surface of the first peripheral wall 19 of the first coverforming member 15. The first peripheral wall 29 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 covers the inner surface of the first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15 entirely. The first peripheral wall 29 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 is in close contact with the inner surface of the first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15. A thickness of the first sound absorber forming member 26 in an original shape before elastic deformation is greater than a thickness of the first cover forming member 15.
The edges of the first peripheral wall 29 and the edges of the first end walls 28 form a first opening edge 30 of the first sound absorber forming member 26. The first opening edge 30 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 is flush with the first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15.
The first sound absorber forming member 26 has a plurality of first ribs 31. The plurality of first ribs 31 protrude from the inner surface of the first peripheral wall 29 of the first sound absorber forming member 26. Each of the first ribs 31 is placed in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the housing 12 of the compressor 11, thereby supporting the first sound absorber forming member 26 relative to the housing 12 of the compressor 11. When the first sound absorber forming member 26 is in the original shape before the elastic deformation, the inner surface of the first peripheral wall 29 and the inner surfaces of the first end walls 28 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 are spaced from the housing 12 of the compressor 11.
The second sound absorber forming member 27 has a semicylindrical shape. The second sound absorber forming member 27 has a pair of second end walls 32 each having a semicircular disk shape and a second peripheral wall 33 having a semicylindrical shape. The second peripheral wall 33 connects the pair of second end walls 32 to each other. The second sound absorber forming member 27 is disposed inside the second cover forming member 16.
The second end walls 32 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 extend along their associated inner surfaces of the second end walls 22 of the second cover forming member 16. The second end walls 32 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 cover their associated inner surfaces of the second end walls 22 of the second cover forming member 16 entirely. The second end walls 32 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 are in close contact with their associated inner surfaces of the second end walls 22 of the second cover forming member 16. The second peripheral wall 33 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 extends along the inner surface of the second peripheral wall 23 of the second cover forming member 16. The second peripheral wall 33 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 covers the inner surface of the second peripheral wall 23 of the second cover forming member 16 entirely. The second peripheral wall 33 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 is in close contact with the inner surface of the second peripheral wall 23 of the second cover forming member 16. Thus, the sound absorber 14 is in close contact with the inner surface of the cover body 13. A thickness of the second sound absorber forming member 27 in an original shape before elastic deformation is greater than a thickness of the second cover forming member 16.
The edges of the second peripheral wall 33 and the edges of the second end walls 32 form a second opening edge 34 of the second sound absorber forming member 27. The second opening edge 34 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 is flush with the second opening edge 25 of the second cover forming member 16. When the cover body 13 is in the closed state, the first opening edge 30 of the first sound absorber forming member 26 and the second opening edge 34 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 abut against each other.
The second sound absorber forming member 27 has a plurality of second ribs 35. The plurality of second ribs 35 protrude from the inner surface of the second peripheral wall 33 of the second sound absorber forming member 27. Each of the second ribs 35 is placed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the housing 12 of the compressor 11, thereby supporting the second sound absorber forming member 27 relative to the housing 12 of the compressor 11. When the second sound absorber forming member 27 is in the original shape before the elastic deformation, the inner surface of the second peripheral wall 33 and the inner surfaces of the second end walls 32 are spaced from the housing 12 of the compressor 11. Thus, when the sound absorber 14 is in an original shape before elastic deformation, a part of the sound absorber 14 other than the first ribs 31 and the second ribs 35 is spaced from the housing 12 of the compressor 11.
The soundproofing cover 10 includes a plurality of engaging members 41. The engaging members 41 are formed in the first cover forming member 15. Thus, the engaging members 41 are formed in the cover body 13. The engaging members 41 are disposed in the other of the edges of the first peripheral wall 19 of the first cover forming member 15 different from the one of the edges of the first peripheral wall 19 to which the hinge 17 is connected, and an edge of one of the first end walls 18. The engaging members 41 each extend out from the outer surface of the first cover forming member 15 by a predetermined length beyond the first opening edge 21 of the first cover forming member 15. Thus, the engaging members 41 extend from the cover body 13. The engaging members 41 are formed integrally with the first cover forming member 15. Thus, the engaging members 41 are made of material the same as that of the cover body 13.
As illustrated in
The pair of connecting portions 43 each extend out by a predetermined length from opposite ends of the joining portion 42 in the longitudinal direction. The connecting portions 43 extend parallel to each other. The grip portion 44 connects ends of the connecting portions 43 opposite from the joining portion 42 to each other. The grip portion 44 has a tongue shape. The grip portion 44 forms a tip portion of each of the engaging members 41 in an extending direction thereof from the outer surface of the first cover forming member 15. Thus, an end of the grip portion 44 opposite from the connecting portions 43 is a tip end of each of the engaging members 41 in the extending direction. The joining portion 42, the pair of connecting portions 43, and the grip portion 44 form a hook hole 45. Thus, each of the engaging members 41 forms the hook hole 45. The hook hole 45 has a square hole shape.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Each of the engaging members 41 is hooked to its associated one of the engaged members 46 with each of the engaged members 46 inserted into the hook hole 45. In this way, each of the engaging members 41 is engaged with its associated one of the engaged members 46. Thus, the engaging members 41 are engaged with the engaged members 46.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The sound absorber 14 has insertion portions 51. The insertion portions 51 are formed in the second sound absorber forming member 27. The insertion portions 51 are formed in the second opening edge 34 of the second sound absorber forming member 27. The insertion portions 51 are recesses that are recessed from the second opening edge 34. The insertion portions 51 extend through the second sound absorber forming member 27 in the thickness direction thereof. The insertion portions 51 are formed in the second opening edge 34 of the second sound absorber forming member 27 at portions that overlap with the engaged members 46 in the thickness direction of the cover body 13. Thus, the soundproofing cover 10 includes the same number of insertion portions 51 as the number of the engaged members 46. The restricting protrusions 50 are insertable into the insertion portions 51. Thus, the restricting protrusions 50 are inserted into their associated insertion portions 51.
The restricting protrusions 50 protrude from the inner surface of the cover body 13 to a surface flush with the surface 14a of the sound absorber 14 on a side of the housing 12 of the compressor 11. Thus, a protrusion length L1 of each of the restricting protrusions 50 from the inner surface of the cover body 13 is equal to or greater than a half of a thickness T1 of the sound absorber 14 in the original shape before the elastic deformation. The restricting protrusions 50 are spaced from the housing 12 of the compressor 11 before the sound absorber 14 is elastically deformed.
The following will describe an operation of the embodiment.
Sound generated by driving the compressor 11 is radiated from the housing 12. At this time, the sound radiated from the housing 12 is absorbed by the sound absorber 14 of the soundproofing cover 10. In addition, the cover body 13 blocks the radiated sound having passed through the sound absorber 14. As a result, radiation of sound radiated from the housing 12 to the outside of the soundproofing cover 10 is suppressed.
As illustrated in
In this soundproofing cover 10, in engaging the engaging members 41 with the engaged members 46, a force toward the inside of the cover body 13 may be applied from the engaging members 41 to the engaged members 46. This may cause portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed to be displaced toward the inside of the cover body 13 due to crushing of the second ribs 35 of the sound absorber 14. At this time, the restricting protrusions 50 are brought into contact with the housing 12 of the compressor 11. This restricts further displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13. Accordingly, the restricting protrusions 50 are placed in contact with the housing 12 of the compressor 11 in engaging the engaging members 41 with the engaged members 46, so that displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13 are restricted by the restricting protrusions 50. Since the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13 is suppressed, the engaging members 41 are easily engaged with the engaged members 46.
The above embodiment offers the following effects.
(1) The soundproofing cover 10 includes the restricting protrusions 50 protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the cover body 13. The restricting protrusions 50 are configured to be placed in contact with the compressor 11 in engaging the engaging members 41 with the engaged members 46, so that the restricting protrusions 50 restrict the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13. The restricting protrusions 50 placed in contact with the compressor 11 restrict the further displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13. Since the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13 may be suppressed, the engaging members 41 may be easily engaged with the engaged members 46. As a result, engaging the engaging members 41 with the engaged members 46 may be made easy.
(2) The protrusion length L1 of each of the restricting protrusions 50 from the inner surface of the cover body 13 is equal to or greater than a half of the thickness T1 of the sound absorber 14 in the original shape before the elastic deformation. This configuration is suitable for suppressing the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13.
(3) Since the restricting protrusions 50 protrude from the inner surface of the cover body 13 to the surface flush with the surface 14a of the sound absorber 14 on the side of the housing 12 of the compressor 11, the restricting protrusions 50 are easily placed in contact with the compressor 11. As a result, the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13 may be easily suppressed.
(4) The restricting protrusions 50 protrude from the inner surface of the cover body 13 at the positions that overlap with the engaged members 46 in the thickness direction of the cover body 13. This configuration is suitable for suppressing the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13.
(5) The restricting protrusions 50 are spaced from the compressor 11 before the sound absorber 14 is elastically deformed. Accordingly, even when the restricting protrusions 50 protrude from the inner surface of the cover body 13, positioning of the restricting protrusions 50 spaced from the compressor 11 suppresses generation of contact sound due to contact between the restricting protrusions 50 and the compressor 11 during the operation of the compressor 11.
(6) Since the restricting protrusions 50 are inserted into their associated insertion portions 51, the movement of the second sound absorber forming member 27 relative to the second cover forming member 16 is restricted by the restricting protrusions 50. Therefore, the displacement of the second sound absorber forming member 27 relative to the second cover forming member 16 may be suppressed.
The above embodiment may be modified, as exemplified below. The above embodiment and the following modifications may be combined within a technically consistent range.
As illustrated in
In an embodiment, the protrusion length L1 of each of the restricting protrusions 50 from the inner surface of the cover body 13 may be a half of the thickness T1 of the sound absorber 14 in the original shape before the elastic deformation.
In an embodiment, the protrusion length L1 of each of the restricting protrusions 50 from the inner surface of the cover body 13 may be equal to or less than a half of the thickness T1 of the sound absorber 14 in the original shape before the elastic deformation.
In an embodiment, the restricting protrusions 50 may protrude from the inner surface of the cover body 13 at positions shifted from the positions overlapping with the engaged members 46 in the thickness direction of the cover body 13.
In an embodiment, the restricting protrusions 50 may be in contact with the compressor 11 before the sound absorber 14 is elastically deformed.
In an embodiment, the restricting protrusions 50 do not have to be integrally formed with the cover body 13, but may be parts separately provided from the cover body 13. In short, the restricting protrusions 50 only have to protrude inward from the inner surface of the cover body 13. That is, the restricting protrusions 50 may be configured to restrict the displacement of the portions of the cover body 13 where the engaged members 46 are formed toward the inside of the cover body 13 with the restricting protrusions 50 in contact with the compressor 11 in engaging the engaging members 41 with the engaged members 46.
Although the restricting protrusions 50 each have a quadrangular column shape as an example in the above embodiment, the shape of the restricting protrusions 50 is not particularly limited to such a shape.
In an embodiment, for example, the engaging members 41 each may be a protrusion and the engaged members 46 each may be a part that defines the hook hole 45. In short, the relationship between the concavity and convexity of the engaging members 41 and the engaged members 46 is not particularly limited.
In an embodiment, the sound absorber 14 may be in close contact with the housing 12 of the compressor 11 when the sound absorber 14 is in the original shape before the elastic deformation.
In an embodiment, the number of the engaging members 41 may be changed, as necessary. In this case, the number of the engaged members 46 is appropriately changed so as to correspond to the number of the engaging members 41. In short, the engaged members 46 only have to be provided in the outer surface of the cover body 13 at positions corresponding to the engaging members 41 when the cover body 13 is in the closed state.
In an embodiment, the cover body 13 does not have to include the hinge 17. In such a case, the soundproofing cover 10 may have a structure, for example, in which the first cover forming member 15 and the second cover forming member 16, both having a semicylindrical shape, are combined. The soundproofing cover 10 may have a structure in which the cover body 13 of a single strip of a thin sheet is wound around the housing 12 of the compressor 11 all the way around to cover the housing 12. In short, the soundproofing cover 10 only has to be a cover in which the cover body 13 is configured to be opened and closed and the cover body 13 is maintained in the closed state with the engaging members 41 engaged with the engaged members 46.
Although the soundproofing cover 10 is attached to the compressor 11 including the housing 12 having a cylindrical shape in the embodiment, an attaching target to which the soundproofing cover 10 is attached is not particularly limited.
The above embodiment includes the configuration described in the following additional notes.
A soundproofing cover comprising:
The soundproofing cover according to [Additional note 1], wherein
[Additional note 3]
The soundproofing cover according to [Additional note 2], wherein
The soundproofing cover according to [Additional note 2], wherein
The soundproofing cover according to any one of [Additional note 1] to
[Additional Note 4], wherein the restricting protrusion protrudes from the inner
surface of the cover body at a position that overlaps with the engaged member in a thickness direction of the cover body.
<Additional note 6>
The soundproofing cover according to [Additional note 1] to [Additional note 5], wherein the restricting protrusion is spaced from the attaching target when the sound absorber is in an original shape before elastic deformation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-055992 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
