Speaker system such as a sound bar assembly having improved sound quality

A speaker system having a plurality of speaker units and improved sound quality for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a front panel having inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of mating portions including an outer boundary mating portion formed about the perimeter of the front panel, a first interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion at a first end of the front panel and a second interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion at a second end of the front panel;
• the front panel having a first sound opening at the first end and a second sound opening at the second end;
• a back panel having inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of mating portions that oppose corresponding mating portions of the front panel, the mating portions of the back panel including an outer boundary mating portion formed about the perimeter of the back panel, a first interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion of the back panel at a first end of the back panel, and a second interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion of the back panel at a second end of the back panel, wherein opposing mating portions of the front and back panels are fused or welded together to form outer boundary and interior joints where the front and back panels are joined, the front and back panels being spaced apart at their first and second ends to define first and second speaker compartments, respectively, separated by a central compartment;
• and
• a first speaker unit positioned in the first speaker compartment and mounted to transmit sound through the first sound opening and a second speaker unit positioned in the second speaker compartment and mounted to transmit sound through the second sound opening wherein the speaker compartments are acoustically isolated from one another by the interior joints.

An overhead sound bar assembly having improved sound quality for use in a sport utility vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a front panel having inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of mating portions including an outer boundary mating portion formed about the perimeter of the front panel, a first interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion at a first end of the front panel and a second interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion at a second end of the front panel;
• the front panel having a first sound opening at the first end and a second sound opening at the second end;
• a back panel having inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of mating portions that oppose corresponding mating portions of the front panel, the mating portions of the back panel including an outer boundary mating portion formed about the perimeter of the back panel, a first interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion of the back panel at a first end of the back panel, and a second interior mating portion extending between opposite sides of the outer boundary mating portion of the back panel at a second end of the back panel, wherein opposing mating portions of the front and back panels are fused or welded together to form outer boundary and interior joints where the front and back panels are joined, the front and back panels being spaced apart at their first and second ends to define first and second speaker compartments, respectively, separated by a central compartment;
• and
• a first speaker unit positioned in the first speaker compartment and mounted to transmit sound through the first sound opening and a second speaker unit positioned in the second speaker compartment and mounted to transmit sound through the second sound opening wherein the speaker compartments are acoustically isolated from one another by the interior joints.