ACOUSTIC INSULATOR HAVING A TORTUOUS PATH
An acoustic insulator having a tortuous path located in its interior.
1 . A product comprising:
an acoustic insulator;
wherein the acoustic insulator has an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a through hole extending therebetween;
wherein the acoustic insulator has an internal upper surface and an internal lower surface;
wherein the internal upper surface has a first wall extending downward;
wherein the internal lower surface has a second wall extending upward.
2 . The product of claim 1 further comprising a lip extending from a perimeter of the outlet opening.
3 . The product of claim 2 wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are rectangular in shape.
4 . The product of claim 3 wherein the outlet opening has a fillet on each corner.
5 . The product of claim 3 wherein the lip has a chamfer on each corner.
6 . The product of claim 3 wherein the inlet opening is angled.
7 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the first wall and the second wall includes a pair of opposite sloped walls.
8 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wall and the second wall include an arched peak.
9 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wall extends across a length of the upper surface.
10 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second wall extends across a length of the lower surface.
11 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wall and the second wall are spaced apart from each other.
12 . The product of claim 1 wherein the acoustic insulator comprises fibers.
13 . A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the acoustic insulator is coupled to a hole located in a rear sheet metal of a vehicle body.
14 . A method comprising:
providing an open molding process to assemble an acoustic insulator;
forming the acoustic insulator in an open state;
wherein the acoustic insulator comprises a top component and a bottom component and has a living hinge therebetween;
folding the acoustic insulator at the living hinge; and
bonding the acoustic insulator together.
15 . A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the acoustic insulator comprises thermoformed fiber.
16 . A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the acoustic insulator is bonded together using an adhesive.